Sproul Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sproul Observatory |
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| Organization | Swarthmore College | ||||
| Location | Swarthmore, PA | ||||
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Coordinates
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39°54′13″N 75°21′19″W / 39.90361°N 75.35528°W
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| Altitude | 60 meters (200 feet) | ||||
| Closed | 31 July 2017 | ||||
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The Sproul Observatory was a special building where people studied stars and planets. It belonged to Swarthmore College, a university in Pennsylvania. It was located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. The observatory was named after William Cameron Sproul, who was the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania and also went to Swarthmore College. Its main telescope, which was 24 inches (61 cm) wide, was moved to Bentonville, Arkansas in July 2017.
Contents
What is the Sproul Observatory's Story?
How the Observatory Started
In 1907, a man named William Cameron Sproul wanted to help Swarthmore College. He offered to give money to buy equipment for a new observatory. Mr. Sproul was a successful businessman and a former student of the college. He was also a trustee, helping to manage the college. At that time, he was a state senator for Pennsylvania. Later, he became the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania.
Building the Big Telescope
The main telescope was built in 1911 by the John A. Brashear Company. This company was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When the telescope was set up in the observatory in 1913, it was very special. It was the largest telescope on the East Coast of the United States. It was also one of the biggest telescopes in the entire world.
New Uses for the Building
From 1986 to 2004, the observatory building was also used for other purposes. The computer science department at Swarthmore College had offices and labs there.
A New Observatory Arrives
In 2009, Swarthmore College built a new place for studying space. It was called the Peter van de Kamp Observatory. This new observatory was part of the college's Science Center. It had a more modern 24-inch reflecting telescope. This new observatory took over the job of Sproul Observatory for teaching students and showing the public about space.
Moving the Telescope and Books
In 2017, the famous Sproul telescope was taken apart. It was then moved to the Eighth Street Market in Bentonville, Arkansas. The plan was to fix it up, make it better, and use it to teach more people about space. The collection of books from Sproul Observatory was given to an astronomy center in Magdalena, New Mexico.
What's Next for the Building?
Also in 2017, Swarthmore College shared plans for the Sproul Observatory building itself. They decided to change it into a new center. This new place will be called the James Hormel and Michael Nguyen Intercultural Center at Sproul Hall. It will bring together several important student services. These include the Intercultural Center, Interfaith Center, Religious and Spiritual Life Center, and the Office of International Student Services.
Who Were the Directors?
The Sproul Observatory had several important directors over the years:
- John A. Miller (1923–1938)
- Peter van de Kamp (1937–1972)
- Wulff-Dieter Heintz (1973–1982)
- Sarah L. Lippincott (1982–)
See Also
In Spanish: Observatorio Sproul para niños
