Abandoned Observatories

[Putaendo Patrick]

There's something fascinating about abandoned buildings - and even more so if they are observatories!

Here are two links to some great photos:

http://weburbanist.com/2012/07/08/watch-out-10-eerie-abandoned-observatories/

http://weburbanist.com/2014/05/25/cracked-mirrors-12-more-eerie-abandoned-observatories/

[Tomjo59]

Thanks for that Putaendo. These must be very atmospheric places to have a wander around, but also very sad that they are not still doing the job they were intended for.

[jambouk]

Interesting images; I agree, fascinating to see the pictures and to imagine the past lives they'd seen and the enjoyment countless astronomers and visitors had experienced in them, but balanced against the sadness that they are now unsued and degrading.

I'm interested to see a Canadian observatory, as one of the books on my pile to read is this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0802026532/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1452973859&sr=8-1π=CB192561891_AA75&keywords=canadian+astronomy

I have no Canadian connections just saw it online and thought it might be an interesting read. But I've got an Arthur Eddington biography to read first.

Thanks for the links.

James

[JeremyS]

Regarding old, but not necessarily abandoned, observatories, this 1907 book gives a great overview of the observatories, both large and small, around the world at the time. I was fascinated to learn of local astronomers and observatories that I hadn't come across: https://archive.org/details/lesobservatoires00obse

Jeremy

[Putaendo Patrick]

Thanks Jeremy, I just downloaded the book and made a bee-line for the Santiago, Chile entry . Seems that when the book was published Santiago had an astrograph as part of the Carte du Ciel project. I wonder where that is now - hopefully I'll find it in a skip at the back of the university   .

The University of Chile has an attractive refractor from about 1910-20 (I think) that was saved when the Astronomy Department moved from the centre of Santiago to nearby hills. I'll try to find more details and publish a "short report"

[JeremyS]

Hello Putaendo Patrick,

apparently Santiago withdrew from the Cates du Ciel Project and was replaced by the Hyderabad Observatory. No doubt the Santiago astrograph was used for other research. This might have been a blessing considering the project consumed the resources of many of the  observatories to the extent that they were unable to much else.

It will be interesting to hear about the U of Chile telescope.

Jeremy 

[ollypenrice]

A world in which no-one is any longer looking up...

Hmmm.

Olly

[reefshark]

Hi Putaendo Patrick, 

these are wonderfully atmospheric places, but it a shame how the world moves on and leaves empty these once functional buildings.

The observatory near Truro in the UK is still there and is still unused.  An unfortunate project which never got off the ground.

I believe that it is now past repair and would take too much investment to get working.  There are more photographs and a description of what went wrong here. http://www.uer.ca/locations/show.asp?locid=29397 

I think my favourite comes from the second link and that is the observatory in New York which is now surrounded by skyscrapers on all sides.

Carolyn

[roblegion]

Hi Carolyn, any idea who owns this site and its current status?

[roblegion]

Carolyn, done a bit or research here, I know Gordon (seafury) (who astonishingly enough lives 6 doors away) put up some information a while age. It turns out I know one of the original instigators (Trustees) of this site and will try to have a chat with him about the current situation and future feasibility. It seems a shame that if they already own the land and the domes to let this go to waste. Even if the domes themselves are beyond repair the infrastructure is in place.

[reefshark]

Hi Rob

thank you for looking into this.  That is interesting news.  It does seem such a shame that the whole site is stood empty.  It would be amazing if it could be utilized and brought back into use.  If you don't mind keeping me updated that would be great

Carolyn

[roblegion]

No probs, I have just written a note to Dr Malla and will drop it off at the golf club on my way past, see if he responds.

[reefshark]

A little different to abandoned observatories but still may be of interest.  There is a new book that has been published documenting US abandoned space facilities.  Its called Abandoned in place, by Roland Miller.  The pictures look very atmospheric.  here are links to some of the images here.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2016/feb/24/america-space-race-sites-cape-canaveral-white-sands-vandenberg-edwards-in-pictures

http://www.space.com/32393-abandoned-in-place-gorgeous-space-photo-book.html

Carolyn

[laudropb]

Interesting looking book.

[Stub Mandrel]

Just a note so that I can watch this thread :-)

[Putaendo Patrick]

Reefshark - Thanks for the link. I love the notice "Abandoned in Place", think I'll make a stencil and apply it to some of my unfinished projects around the house . The Soviets also left a lot space material completely abandoned. Want a couple of unused space shuttles? Look no further...

http://www.boredpanda.com/abandoned-soviet-space-shuttle-program-buran-baikonur-cosmodrome-kazakhstan-ralph-mirebs/

[Physopto]

You can add The South Shields Marine and Technical College observatory to the list. It was closed down quite some time ago and the, as it is now called the South Tyneside College, decided to give away the telescope to Wynyard in 2008. The dome is still there. The college was due to be demolished and rebuilt but funding cuts put a stop to that. Which is lucky for local residents as the college use the surrounding streets as an unofficial car park and have no respect for the residents rights.

Otherwise the dome might have found a new home also, it is on the roof so cannot be taken away easily. They also dismantled the planetarium which went to the same place.

Wynyard now offer us the chance to visit "their" facilities at a considerable charge. Not bad for a freebee!

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/local-news/planetarium-s-future-saved-with-move-out-of-town-1-1294682

Derek

[jambouk]

Cointe observatory, Liege, Belgium. Designed by Lambert Noppius and built in 1882.

http://america.pink/cointe-observatory_1035506.html

http://philosophyofscienceportal.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/belgiums-cointe-observatory.html

http://io9.gizmodo.com/abandoned-space-observatories-are-monuments-to-science-1479519920

James

 

[Putaendo Patrick]

The Cointe Observatory became an important centre for molecular spectroscopy in the 1940s and 50s when Prof. Pol Swings was director. I do hope the building can be preserved in some form! There's a Wikipedia article on the observatory in French at:  https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observatoire_de_Cointe#Cointe