William Brydone Jack Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
The observatory in November 2012
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| Location | University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada |
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Coordinates
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45°56′53″N 66°38′26″W / 45.94806°N 66.64056°W
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| Established | 1851 |
The William Brydone Jack Observatory is a special building at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It's a place where people can look at stars and planets using a powerful telescope. This observatory was built in 1851. It was the very first building of its kind in what was then called British North America (which included parts of Canada).
Because it's so important to history, the observatory was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1954. This means it's a place recognized for its historical value.
Contents
How the Observatory Started
Who was William Brydone Jack?
In 1840, a smart person named William Brydone Jack became a professor. He taught Mathematics and something called Natural Philosophy at King's College. This college later became the University of New Brunswick.
Getting the First Telescope
William Brydone Jack loved looking at the stars. In 1847, he and another professor, James Robb, asked the college for money. They wanted to buy special science tools. With help from the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Sir Edmund Walker Head, Brydone Jack convinced the college to buy a telescope.
This amazing telescope was made in Germany. It was 7.5 feet long and made of mahogany wood and shiny brass. It was an achromatic telescope, which means it was designed to show clear images. It also had an equatorial mount, which helps it follow stars as they move across the sky. The telescope arrived in Fredericton in May 1849.
Building the Observatory
After getting the telescope, Brydone Jack needed a place to put it. He asked the college for more money to build a small observatory. He was successful again! He even designed the building himself. The observatory was finished in 1851.
The building was covered with wooden siding. The main part of the building was an eight-sided tower, 14 feet wide. This tower had a roof covered in copper that could spin around. This allowed the telescope inside to point in any direction. The rest of the building had two smaller, square rooms, each 12 feet wide.
Later Years of the Observatory
Changes Over Time
In 1859, King's College changed its name to the University of New Brunswick. William Brydone Jack became the university's president in 1861 and stayed in that role until 1885. He passed away in 1886.
After his death, the observatory wasn't used for astronomy as much. However, the telescope stayed inside. In 1899, the building was updated, and the telescope was placed on a strong concrete base.
New Uses for the Building
During the 1900s, the observatory building was used for many different things. It was an art center for a while. It also served as a club for university teachers. Even The Fiddlehead, a magazine that publishes stories and poems, had its office there.
A National Historic Site
The observatory was officially named a National Historic Site in 1954. A special plaque was put up on May 10, 1955, to celebrate this. The plaque explained that it was the first astronomical observatory in Canada. It also mentioned William Brydone Jack's work. He used the observatory to figure out the exact location of Fredericton and other places. This even helped fix mistakes on the international border!
In 1984, the building was renovated again to become a museum. Today, you can see Brydone Jack's old astronomy tools on the first floor. The original telescope from 1849 is still in the tower.
Images for kids
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The observatory in November 2012
