 Original building atop Mt. Lookout | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Observatory code | 765  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Observatory Historic District,Cincinnati, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 39°08′20″N84°25′23″W / 39.139°N 84.423°W /39.139; -84.423 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Established | 1843 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telescopes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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  Location of Cincinnati Observatory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TheCincinnati Observatory, known locally asMt. Lookout Observatory, is located inCincinnati,Ohio (United States) on top ofMount Lookout. It consists of two observatory buildings housing an 11-inch (28 cm) and 16 inch (41 cm) aperturerefracting telescope. It is the oldest professionalobservatory in the United States.[3] It was a key facility for astronomical research and education at theUniversity of Cincinnati and currently operates as a 19th-century observatory. There are regular viewings through both historical telescopes as well as tours and additional programs. The observatory also has an extensive outreach program, providing astronomical education for the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana region.[4][5]
The Cincinnati Observatory is a contributing property to theObservatory Historic District.
Cincinnati Observatory was built byOrmsby M. Mitchel at the peak ofMount Ida,[7] a hill that overlooks downtown Cincinnati.Nicholas Longworth donated 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land for the purpose.[8] TheHoly Cross Monastery and Chapel stands today at the site.[9] The cornerstone was laid on November 9, 1843, and presiding over the occasion was formerPresidentJohn Quincy Adams, with an introduction by JudgeJacob Burnet.[10] At 77 years old, it was to be his last public speech, and Mount Ida was renamed toMount Adams in his honor.
The Merz refractor was the biggest telescope in the United States in the early 1840s.[11]
In 1871, the Observatory came under the control of theUniversity of Cincinnati and in 1873 it was transferred from Mt. Adams to Mt. Lookout in order to escape the smoke and dirt of the city, where it remains today.[12] The ground on which it stands was given to the city by John Kilgour in 1872.[13] A smaller structure, the Mitchel Building, holds the original telescope taken from the Mount Adams observatory. The 1873 building was built by the firm of Cincinnati architectSamuel Hannaford.[14] From 1884 to 1930 the director of the Observatory wasJermain G. Porter.[15][16] In 1998 the Observatory was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Theasteroid1373 Cincinnati was named to honor the staff of the observatory.
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