| Organization | University of the Free State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observatory code | 074 | ||||
| Location | Maselspoort, South Africa | ||||
| Coordinates | 29°02′19.79″S26°24′17.0″E / 29.0388306°S 26.404722°E /-29.0388306; 26.404722 | ||||
| Altitude | 1,372 metres (4,501 ft) | ||||
| Established | 1889 (1889) | ||||
| Website | Boyden Observatory | ||||
| Telescopes | |||||
| |||||
  Location of Boyden Observatory | |||||
 | |||||
 Related media on Commons | |||||
Boyden Observatory is anastronomical researchobservatory and science education centre located inMaselspoort, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of the city ofBloemfontein inFree State, South Africa. The observatory is managed by the Physics Department of theUniversity of the Free State (UFS). The Friends of Boyden assist the observatory as a public support group, organising open evenings and protecting its public interest. Boyden also makes use of members ofASSA Bloemfontein Centre, theamateur astronomy club of the city, for presenters and telescope assistants.
The Boyden Station ofHarvard Observatory was founded in 1889 byHarvard University at Mount Harvard nearLima, Peru. It was relocated toArequipa, Peru in October 1890 (obs. code:800).[1][2] It was named afterUriah A. Boyden, who in 1879 left in his will $238,000 to Harvard Observatory to be used for astronomical purposes. Significant work done at Arequipa include the discovery ofPhoebe, an outer moon ofSaturn, byWilliam Henry Pickering using photographic plates captured with the 24 in (61 cm) Bruce Astrograph.[3][4]
In 1927, the observatory was moved to its present location in South Africa.[2] This was done because it was expected that Bloemfontein would be less cloudy than Arequipa, which after two years of recording proved to be true.[5] The site near the settlement of Mazelspoort was formally dedicated in 1933.[6] Its first and longtime director in South Africa wasJohn S. Paraskevopoulos, who held the post from 1927 to 1951.[7] Financial issues at Harvard almost led to the closure of Boyden in 1954, but several European countries became partners in funding and using the observatory. In 1975 Harvard, which had transferred the title to theSmithsonian Institution, announced it would withdraw its support in the following year. UFS agreed to support the facility, and it was donated to UFS in 1976.[8]
Andrew Ainslie Common figured a mirror in 1885 (and another in 1890) for a 60 in (150 cm) Newtonian reflecting telescope (later converted to a Cassegrain), but the telescope fell into disuse and was bought by theHarvard College Observatory from Common's estate. The primary mirror was re-figured in 1933, and along with a new mount it was installed at Boyden.[17][18]
In the mid-1960s the Hamburg engineering firm of Heidenreich and Harbeck was contracted to build a new mirror cell for the telescope to reduce the problems experienced due to the thinness of the mirror and the fact its back surface was not flat.[19] Shortly afterward the old Common primary mirror was replaced by a new 60 in (150 cm) mirror from Loomis made of low-expansion glass.[18][19]
In 2001 the telescope received a major upgrade byDFM Engineering. This upgrade included a new control system, modifications to the mirror cell, and a new primary light shield.[20] From 2005 to 2009 it was part of theProbing Lensing Anomalies Network.
| Asteroids discovered: 4[26] | |
|---|---|
| 4301 Boyden | 7 August 1966 |
| 5298 Paraskevopoulos | 7 August 1966 |
| 11781 Alexroberts | 7 August 1966 |
| 14310 Shuttleworth | 7 August 1966 |
Boyden Observatory performs professionalastrophysics research using the 1.5 meter reflector. In addition to the research program, theobservatory runs an active educational program for school children from all backgrounds as well as for members of the public, attracting thousands of visitors each year. In 1966, this observatory discovered four asteroids.[26]
Facilities include the main building where the original offices were and where the library is, the resident astronomer's house, a state-of-the-artauditorium seating 100 people inside and 200 people on its roof for open-air sky shows, the main telescope buildings, smaller telescope buildings, a lecture room, store room, theASSA Bloemfontein clubhouse, observation platforms, and various vantage points.[27]
Theobservatory is constantly experiencing growth in visitor numbers and the extension of its facilities. Medium term plans call for e.g. the establishment of an educational walking route for visitors to appreciate the diverse natural life in the area, a museum and science exhibition areas, upgrading of the educational telescope facilities etc. Long term plans include the construction of a digitalplanetarium and the completion of the fully-fledged Science Hall.[citation needed] A digitalplanetarium is open in the nearby city of Bloemfontein on Naval Hill (South Africa's first digital planetarium), inside the original dome of the Lamont-Hussey observatory.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
