KU telescope has history
The astronomy department telescope, used for watching stars, planets, and comets, with an occasional glance toward Daisy Hill, is located on top of Lindley Hall.
The telescope, with a 27-inch reflector and a focal length of 147 inches, has an origin that began more than 30 years ago.
"THE ORIGINAL WORK on it was done in the 1930's," Henry Horak, professor of astronomy, said. "The mirror was made by an amateur telescope maker in Kansas City by the name of William Pitt, who was pretty well-to-do and converted his swimming pool into an optics laboratory.
"The mirror was given to the University and then the mounting was made in the Fowler Shops." Horak said. "In fact, it was in the present journalism building, which used to be the old Fowler Shops."
The telescope was put into use in the 1930's, and was kept in a frame building that was located on what is now the walk leading to Lindley Hall, Horak said.
"THEN THE WAR came along and the building was taken down, and the telescope was stored in Hoch Auditorium," Horak said.
The telescope was mounted in its present position on top of Lindley Hall in the early 1950's.
Many problems have been caused by the expansion growth
of the University in relation to the use of the telescope.
"THE TROUBLE IS the University is building up so much around it now, that with all the
lights, and dormitories on the horizons, and the Campanile, it really can't be used very well for serious research," Horak said.
Daily Kansan Wednesday, February 22, 1967
9
SUA ART FORUMS offers a tour of the exhibition "Art Treasures of Turkey"
under the sponsorship of The Nelson Art Gallery
tour conducted by Dr. Chu-Tsing Li professor of Art History, Kansas Univ.
Saturday, Feb. 25th
limited number of tickets available at the SUA Office Kansas Union until Friday afternoon 5:00 p.m.
bus tickets $1.00
bus leaves Kansas Union at 9:00 a.m. will return to KU at 12:30 p.m.
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