Pictured is the 10-inch Siderostat-Type
Refractor Telescope in operation at Pittsburgh's original Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science
Center) in the 1980s. While the telescope tube is permanently mounted
on a concrete pier (telescope tube does not move, except for the movements of the Earth), a flat
first-surface mirror (which does move by an electric motor, with a
clock-drive mechanism), behind the telescope, reflects images of the
sky into the telescope. And, while the telescope remains out in the
cooler air, people can look through the telescope while remaining in
a heated room (i.e. a glass wall separates the eyepiece from the rest
of the telescope). (Image Source: Francis G. Graham,
Professor Emeritus of Physics, Kent State University)
By Glenn A. Walsh
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower
A
proposed addition to Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center does not
include re-installation of a historic telescope, as promised to the
City of Pittsburgh in 2002. According to a 2002 legal Memorandum of
Understanding between the City and the Science Center, the Science
Center had agreed to include re-installation of the city-owned
telescope with the construction of an addition to the The Carnegie
Science Center.
The
telescope is a rather unique 10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor
Telescope, which was installed in Pittsburgh’s original Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science in 1941. The 75th
anniversary of this telescope will be on November 19th.
This type of specialized telescope, which is specifically designed
for use by the public, is rather rare. Upon re-installation of this
telescope, it would be the largest Siderostat-Type Telescope in the
world, as two larger such telescopes have both been dismantled.
A
huge 49-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope was built for a
special exhibition in Paris in 1900. After the exhibition, when the
telescope could not be sold, it was dismantled. The University of
Paris still possesses the telescope's 49-inch objective lens, but the
rest of the telescope is gone.
Around
1929, a Philadelphia businessman, Gustavas Wynne Cook, built a
15-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope (with the lens and
mounting coming from John Brashear's company in Pittsburgh) for his
suburban estate. At Mr. Cook's death in 1940, the telescope and
observatory were donated to the University of Pennsylvania. After
disposing of the suburban property in 2007, the telescope was given
to amateur astronomers in Jacksonville, Florida; to this day, they
have not been able to raise the funds to build a new observatory for
this telescope.
The
Carnegie Science Center dismantled and placed the Buhl Planetarium
Siderostat-Type Telescope in storage in 2002, to make-way for
expansion of The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. At that time, a
legal Memorandum of Understanding was enacted, between the City and
the Science Center, indicating that the Science Center would include
the telescope in an expansion of the Science Center building.
However, the height, location, and configuration of the proposed
Science Center expansion makes installation of any telescope not
feasible. Hence, it is questionable whether Science Center officials
seriously considered including the Siderostat-Type Telescope in this
building addition.
Friends
of the Zeiss Project Director Glenn A. Walsh, who served as
Astronomical Observatory Coordinator of Pittsburgh's original Buhl
Planetarium (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center) in Allegheny Center from
1986 to 1991, addressed the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission
regarding this project on October 4. The following is the prepared
text of his comments to the Commission (blog-post continues following the text of this public statement):
Friends of the
Zeiss Public
Statement Before
P.O. Box 1041 Planning Commission of
Pittsburgh, PA 15230-1041 U.S.A. the City of Pittsburgh
Telephone:
412-561-7876 By Glenn A. Walsh --
2016 October 4
Good afternoon, I am
Glenn Walsh, 633 Royce Avenue, Mt. Lebanon, Project Director of Friends of the
Zeiss. From 1986 to 1991, I was Astronomical Observatory Coordinator of the
original Buhl Planetarium in Allegheny Center.
We have reviewed The
Carnegie Science Center MDP and find something missing: an observatory for a
historic, city-owned telescope that the Science Center promised the City, by
legal memorandum of understanding, would be included in the Science Center
expansion. However, the height, location, and configuration of the proposed
expansion makes installation of any telescope not feasible. Hence, we question
if installation of this telescope was seriously considered.
Called a Siderostat-Type
Telescope, it has a unique design, specifically for public use. It allows the
public to remain in a heated room, while the telescope stays out in the cooler
air. Built at Buhl Planetarium in 1941, it will mark its 75th anniversary
on November 19th. With a 10-inch lens, upon re-installation it would
be the largest Siderostat-Type Telescope in the world, as two larger such
telescopes have both been dismantled.
In 2002, when this historic
telescope was dismantled, the City allowed the Science Center to store the
telescope until a building addition is built. At a 2008 Planning Commission
Hearing, Science Center Co-Director Ron Baillie said he would provide the
Commission with a copy of the legal memorandum of understanding, between the
City and the Science Center, regarding reuse of the telescope.
According to a 2013
Pursuant Ketchum Fundraising Analysis, funding any Science Center expansion
would be difficult. So, it seems unlikely another expansion could occur in the
foreseeable future.
We ask that the Planning
Commission seek clarification of this issue before approving the MDP. Our
question is simple: With this city-owned telescope removed from Buhl
Planetarium, and, currently, no feasible way to install it at the Science
Center, how will the Science Center now keep its legal commitment to the City,
and when will city residents, again, be able to use this historic telescope?
gaw
PHOTO OF BUHL’S
SIDEROSTAT-TYPE TELESCOPE ON PAGE 2:
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/01/astronomical-calendar-2016-january.html
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/01/astronomical-calendar-2016-january.html
Following the Public Comment Period,
the Planning Commission asked the Science Center representatives to
address Mr. Walsh's concerns. Ron Baillie, Henry Buhl, Jr.
Co-Director of The Carnegie Science Center, said that the legal
Memorandum of Understanding had no time limit; the Science Center
was, hence, not required to install the telescope at this time.
He also said that the telescope was too
large and obsolete for installation in the Science Center. He said
that the Science Center's current telescope was computerized and
easier to use. Following Mr. Baillie's comments, the City Planning Commission approved the Science Center's expansion plans by a unanimous vote.
It is odd that Mr. Baillie would call
the Siderostat-Type Telescope obsolete. When is any telescope, that
can continue to serve its main purpose, obsolete? Would he also say
that The Carnegie Museum's famous dinosaur skeletons are obsolete,
and we can learn no more from them, simply because they are old?
Indeed, for use by the public, a
Siderostat-Type Telescope is still quite advanced, particularly
considering Buhl's telescope was built in 1941! With the
Siderostat-Type Telescope, the public can use the telescope
year-round, while standing in a heated observing room. With most
other telescopes, including the Science Center's current telescope,
during the colder weather the public has to be outside with the
telescope, if it is used at all in the cold weather (the Science
Center closes their observatory during the cold weather).
Of course, telescopic images can now be
brought indoors to computer or television screens. But, telescopic
view by video can be viewed just as easily at home as it can be in a
planetarium or science center! When people visit a planetarium or
science center, they want to look through a telescope; a
Siderostat-Type Telescope can make such an experience much more
comfortable during the colder weather.
If The Carnegie Science Center had no
intentions of using the Siderostat-Type Telescope, why did they apply
to the City to move the telescope? Yes, they specifically applied to
the City, to move the telescope out of the Buhl Planetarium building.
Friends of the Zeiss also applied to the City Request for Proposals (RFP), to use the telescope
in the Buhl Planetarium building. However, the City agreed to allow
the Science Center to move the telescope out of the Buhl Planetarium
building into storage.
Could it be that the Science Center
wanted to make sure that neither Friends of the Zeiss, nor the
Children’s Museum, used the Siderostat-Type Telescope in
“competition” with the Science Center's then-new telescope? Now,
I think the evidence is pretty clear that this was the Science
Center's primary motivation.
And, how is the Science Center using
their current domed-observatory? Up until this year, it was open to
the public twice-a-week (Friday and Saturday evenings),
weather-permitting, except during the cold-weather months. Beginning
this year, the Science Center observatory is only open once or twice
each month!
So, now that the Science Center has
decided not to reassemble the Siderostat-Type Telescope, it seems the
Siderostat-Type Telescope will continue unable to educate city
residents in Astronomy, as the telescope collects dust. Even if the
Children’s Museum decided to reuse the Siderostat-Type Telescope,
it would cost them money to convert, what is now a Board Room, back
into an observatory. There would have been no capital cost to reuse
the Siderostat-Type Telescope, had it stayed in the Buhl Planetarium
building, as Friends of the Zeiss had recommended!
Internet Links to Additional Information ---
Walsh, Glenn A. "Science Center Addition Omits Historic Telescope."
Public Statement Before Allegheny County Council.
Friends of the Zeiss 2016 Nov. 22.
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/statements/ST-CountyCouncil-Siderostat75.htm
Berger, Larry.
Radio Interview Regarding 75th Anniversary of Buhl Planetarium Observatory. Audio: Radio Interview.
Saturday Light Brigade Radio Program: NeighborhoodVoices.org 2016 November 19.
Larry Berger, host of the Saturday Light Brigade children's / family radio program, interviewed Glenn A. Walsh on the 75th anniversary of the Astronomical Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, which was dedicated on 1941 November 19.
Link >>> http://neighborhoodvoices.org/interview-buhl-planetarium-observatory-anniversary
Walsh, Glenn A. "Science Center Addition Omits Historic Telescope."
Public Statement Before Pittsburgh City Council.
Friends of the Zeiss 2016 Nov. 14.
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/statements/ST-CityCouncil-Siderostat75.htm
Walsh, Glenn A. "Science Center Addition Omits Historic Telescope."
Public Statement Before Special Board Meeting of the Allegheny Regional Asset District Board of Directors.
Friends of the Zeiss 2016 Nov. 9.
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/statements/ST-ARAD-Siderostat75.htm
Behrman, Elizabeth. "Buhl Planetarium telescope excluded from science center's expansion plans."
Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh 2016 Oct. 6.
Link >>> http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/11259571-74/telescope-center-science
Nelson Jones, Diana. "Planning Commission OKs plan to expand Carnegie Science Center."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2016 October 5.
The end of the article discusses Mr. Walsh's public statement before the City Planning Commission.
Link >>> http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/10/05/Planning-Commission-OKs-plan-to-expand-Carnegie-Science-Center/stories/201610050111
(Additional radio news coverage of this issue, including short interview with Glenn A. Walsh by reporter Elaine Effort, on KQV-AM 1410 NewsRadio on Friday Afternoon, 2016 October 7.)
Buhl Planetarium's 10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/
Brief History of Siderostat-Type Telescopes:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/#historysiderostat
2008 City Planning Commission Statement of Glenn A. Walsh on same subject:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/statements/ST-plancommis-siderostat.htm
News Release Regarding 2016 October 4 Public Statement Before City Planning Commission:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/releases/NR-PLCOMMIS-siderostat2c.htm
News Release Regarding 2016 October 4 Public Statement Before City Planning Commission:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/releases/NR-PLCOMMIS-siderostat2c.htm
Related Blog Post ---
Walsh, Glenn A. "75th Anniversary: America's 5th Public Observatory." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2016 Nov. 19.
75th anniversary of The People's Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, including the rather unique 10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope.
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/11/75th-anniversary-americas-5th-public.html
Source: Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss.
Walsh, Glenn A. "75th Anniversary: America's 5th Public Observatory." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2016 Nov. 19.
75th anniversary of The People's Observatory of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, including the rather unique 10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope.
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/11/75th-anniversary-americas-5th-public.html
Source: Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss.
2016 Oct. 6.
2016: 75th Year of Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium Observatory
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/01/astronomical-calendar-2016-january.html
Like This Post? - Please Share!
Want to receive SpaceWatchtower blog posts in your inbox ?
Send request to < spacewatchtower@planetarium.cc >.
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director, Friends of the Zeiss: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/ >
& SpaceWatchtower Editor / Author: < http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/weblog/spacewatchtower/gaw/ >
Electronic Mail - < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
Astronomy Links: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#astrolinks >
Science Links: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#sciencelinks >
Twitter Feed: < https://twitter.com/spacewatchtower >
SpaceWatchtower Blog: < http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/ >
LibraryWatchtower Blog: < http://librarywatchtower.blogspot.com >
South Hills Backyard Astronomers Blog: < http://shbastronomers.blogspot.com/ >
Barnestormin Blog: Writing, Essays, Pgh. News, etc.: < http://www.barnestormin.blogspot.com/ >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
< http://www.planetarium.
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
< http://adlerplanetarium.
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
< http://www.andrewcarnegie.
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
< http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
< http://inclinedplane.tripod.
* Public Transit:
< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.
2016: 75th Year of Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium Observatory
Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/01/astronomical-calendar-2016-january.html
Like This Post? - Please Share!
Want to receive SpaceWatchtower blog posts in your inbox ?
Send request to < spacewatchtower@planetarium.cc >.
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director, Friends of the Zeiss: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/ >
& SpaceWatchtower Editor / Author: < http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/weblog/spacewatchtower/gaw/ >
Electronic Mail - < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
Astronomy Links: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#astrolinks >
Science Links: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#sciencelinks >
Twitter Feed: < https://twitter.com/spacewatchtower >
SpaceWatchtower Blog: < http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/ >
LibraryWatchtower Blog: < http://librarywatchtower.blogspot.com >
South Hills Backyard Astronomers Blog: < http://shbastronomers.blogspot.com/ >
Barnestormin Blog: Writing, Essays, Pgh. News, etc.: < http://www.barnestormin.blogspot.com/ >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
< http://www.planetarium.
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
< http://adlerplanetarium.
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
< http://www.andrewcarnegie.
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
< http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
< http://inclinedplane.tripod.
* Public Transit:
< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.
No comments:
Post a Comment