The Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory of the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It was created in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes. The observatory represented a shift in the thinking of observatories, from mere housing for a telescope and observer, to the modern concept of observation equipment integrated with laboratory space for physics and chemistry. A 102 cm (40 inch) refracting telescope built by the master optician Alvan Clark is located inside; it was the largest telescope until the construction of Mount Wilson's reflector. It remains the largest refracting telescope ever used.

In addition to the Yerkes refractor, the observatory also has a 102 cm (40 inch) and a 61 cm (24 inch) reflecting telescope. Several smaller telescopes are used for educational outreach purposes.

Current research includes the interstellar medium, globular cluster formation, infrared astronomy, and near-Earth objects. Additionally, the University of Chicago maintains a sizable engineering center in the observatory, dedicated to making and maintaining scientific instruments.

The current director is Dr. Kyle M. Cudworth. In March, 2005, the University of Chicago announced plans to sell the observatory and its land. Initial reports had two purchasers interested, Mirbeau, an east coast developer who wants to build luxury homes, and Aurora University, which has a campus straddling the Williams Bay property. The Geneva Lake Conservancy, a regional conservation and land trust organization, has taken the position that it is critical to save, in place, the historic Yerkes Observatory structures and telescopes for education and research, as well as to conserve the rare undeveloped, wooded lakefront and deep forest sections of the 77 acre (312,000 km²) site. On June 7, the University announced it would sell the facility to Mirbeau for $8 million.^*. Under the Mirbeau plan, a 100-room resort with a large spa operation and attendant parking and support facilities would be located on the 9-acre vigin wooded Yerkes land on the lakeshore -- the last such undeveloped, natural site on Geneva Lake's 21-mile shoreline. 72 homes would be developed on the upper Yerkes property, surrounding the historic observatory. These grounds were designed more than 100 years ago by famed landscape archtect Frederick Law Olmstead, designer of New York's Central Park.

See also

• List of largest optical refracting telescopes
• List of observatories

External links

• Yerkes Observatory - official site.
• Description and history from the National Park Service.
• Save Yerkes

Telescopes | Astronomical observatories in Wisconsin | University of Chicago

Yerkes-Observatorium | Osservatorio Yerkes | Observatorij Yerkes