UW observatory celebrates 10 years of outreach programs

For more than 100 years observers used the Theodor Jacobsen Observatory at the University of Washington to view planets and stars and other celestial orbs, but a decade ago the sphere most on astronomers’ minds was the wrecking ball, as the vintage telescope and building, now of no use for serious astronomical research, faced demolition. A spirited letter-writing campaign by alumni and friends of the observatory saved it. Wednesday, in celebration of 10 years back in use for public outreach, TJO held an open house with lectures, solar system tours, telescope making, and stories about the historic instruments housed there.

As is par for Seattle, it was a cloudy evening and there was little to see through the 1892 refracting telescope, which has a 6-inch Brashear objective lens and sits on a Warner & Swasey equatorial mount, save for the flashing red lights atop a couple of nearby construction cranes or the leaves of the trees that now block much of the scope’s potential field of view. Yet a modest but steady stream of visitors dropped by to check it out, and promised to return some night soon when the sky is clear. (Open houses are held at the Jacobsen Observatory on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, March through November.)

The Bamberg Transit Telescope is in the transit room of the
Theodor Jacobsen Observatory at the University of Washington.
Photo: Greg Scheiderer.

On this particular visit to the observatory I took interest in a piece of equipment I had never really had a look at before: The UW’s Bamberg Transit Telescope, which dates back to about 1904. Fortunately Alan Whiting, an astronomy Ph.D. and member of the Seattle Astronomical Society, was on hand to explain what the scope is all about. (Had Whiting not been on hand this paper by Katherine Blair gives a good account of the history and operation of the scope.) The German-made instrument sits in the observatory’s transit room, where doors can open on the ceiling and north and south walls. The setup was used to make precise measurements of the transits of stars across the meridian, which was how we kept our clocks set on the exact time until atomic clocks came about with their incredible precision.

The scope still looks cool, as you can see by the photo above at right, but closer examination and a peek through it reveal it is badly in need of a little TLC. In fact, all of the gear, and the building, and the Theodor Jacobsen Observatory, could use a little attention.

The facility is worthy. The second-oldest building on campus, it’s on the register of historic buildings, and the outreach is effective, drawing thousands of visitors each year. UW students provide lectures at the open houses, and volunteers from the Seattle Astronomical Society tell about the history of the telescope and treat visitors to a look through it when the skies are clear. The latest evidence that the effort is useful is the birth of the Protostars group, a mentorship program at the UW run by female astronomy undergraduate volunteers and geared toward 12-16 year old girls enamored with astronomy. Protostars will learn the basics of telescope operation, data reduction and gain public speaking skills.

An effort is under way to restore Dr. Jacobsen’s original office at the observatory, which scandalously is in use as a janitorial office. While certainly the custodians need an office, restoring this particular one to astronomy would be a fitting nod to the history, add 300 square feet of badly needed exhibit space, and contribute mightily to the outreach mission of the department. Supporters of the idea can write in here to make their opinions heard, or donate to the Friends of the Observatory or Friends of Astronomy funds to back these efforts.