Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium |
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Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium
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| General information | |
| Status | Open |
| Type | Observatory |
| Address | 4600 Sunset Avenue |
| Town or city | Indianapolis, IN |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 39°50′29″N 86°10′17″W / 39.84139°N 86.17139°W |
| Groundbreaking | 1953 |
| Completed | October, 1954 |
| Opened | November 5, 1954 |
| Cost | $325,000 |
| Owner | Butler University |
| Height | 50ft |
The Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium is an exciting place at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's where you can look at stars and learn all about space!
Contents
Butler University's First Observatory
Butler University had its very first observatory way back in 1888. It was on the east side of Indianapolis. This first observatory had a special telescope. Its lens was made in 1883 by Alvan Clark & Sons. The telescope was bought from Robert McKim of Madison, Indiana.
When the university moved to a new campus in 1928, the old observatory was taken down. The telescope was fixed up in the 1930s. It was then put on the new campus. However, it wasn't used again until 1945.
Building the Holcomb Observatory
In 1953, a kind person named James Irving Holcomb and his wife gave a large gift to Butler University. They donated $325,000 to build a new observatory. This was a special gift for the university's 100th birthday.
In October 1954, a huge 38-inch (970 mm) reflecting telescope was put in place. It was installed by J. W. Fecker, Inc. This telescope was, and still is, the biggest one in all of Indiana! The observatory was built on a hill. This hill is on the north side of the Butler University campus.
The observatory's original dome was made of wood. In the early 1980s, this wooden dome was replaced. A new dome made of aluminum was put in its place. The telescope itself was also updated. This work started in 1995 and cost about $120,000.
Exciting New Upgrades
Since 1995, the observatory has received two major upgrades. These improvements make it even better for studying space.
Telescope Improvements
In 2015, the main telescope got a big upgrade. This cost $425,000 and was done by Astronomical Consultants and Equipment. The upgrade greatly improved how the telescope sees things. It also made it easier to use for research.
The telescope's optics were changed. This made its effective imaging area much larger. It can now capture images that are 10 times bigger! This means scientists can see more of the sky at once. The telescope can even be used from anywhere in the world. This helps researchers study space without being on campus. Scientists use the Holcomb telescope to study many things. These include asteroids, exoplanets, and different types of stars.
Planetarium Overhaul
In 2018 and 2019, the planetarium also got a complete makeover. This cost over $200,000. It was done with help from Bowen Technovation. Now, it's a fully digital, immersive theater. This means the shows fill the entire dome.
The old star projector was replaced in 2018. A new digital projector was installed. This new projector shows more than 4 million pixels onto the dome. It can show the sky as it looked millions of years ago. It can also show how it will look in the future. The new projector lets you "fly" to the Moon and other planets. You can even fly through and out of the Milky Way galaxy!
Besides the new projector, the old wooden benches were replaced. Now there are comfortable theater-style seats. New surround sound and special lighting were also added. These upgrades make visiting the planetarium a fantastic experience!
Even with all these modern upgrades, the observatory building still has its classic 1950s style. The lobby floor has cool zodiac symbols. There's also a starburst chandelier and tall frosted windows. The main telescope still looks like it did in the 1950s. And guess what? Butler University's very first telescope from the 1880s is still there. It rides "piggyback" on the main telescope!
