, 1860-12-29
Chicago Academy Of Sciences at Ann
Arbor..YIs1t to tAe Observatory and
Return Home

Chicago academy Of Sciences at Ann /
Artor.-yls1t to the Observatory and
Return Homo.
lRaported Expressly for the Chicago Tnbune.1
On Thursday afternoon the Academy visited
the Observatory Of the State University. As
all could not be accommodated in the build
lug ut tie same time, the company was divided |
into two parties, one visiting II 1t o'clock and
the other ut : o'clock P. II. The Observatory I
Is In charge Of Prof Bruunow, one Of the |
IN the country, Who received Us aud explained |
the use Of the different instruments, giving
practical lecture on what might have baeu 6cen |
IN the heavens, had 1t been clear.
For the Observatory, the State University Is
indebted to the Gheraiity Of the citizens OF
struction by subscription. IA good example
for Chicago.l The site Of the building Is
On the banks Of the Huron River, aud about
half q mile no-t.e.s If the University grounds,
On hill which commands perfectly free hori- |
zon. These grounds embrace nearly four acres.
The Observatory consists Of a main building
with dome, aud wings On the east and west
side On entering the main building We found
ourselves in 8 spacious hall, in tue center Of
which is the la1ys. solid and perfectly insnlae
ted brick pier, which supporto tht stone pill
lar on which the telescope is mounted. Eur
rounding this pier aTe ten columns, which
support the outer walls Of the dome. In one
corner Of the hall Is the staircase which leads
into the dome, aud through doors in the east
end west hall, the two wings arc entered. one
Of which Is occupied By the -Mrieian Crib,
while the other i used as study and library
The dome reEblses On cannon balls, and can
he moved with great case By the observer from
the observing chair, which is placed on rail-
road aud moves with the dome The SHUTTER
moves on small rollers and can be rolled over
the stays Of the dome.
The Meridian Circle was made By Mcssrs:
c$F m-I 1fR Pal fn ~ n
TIC finest in the country. 1t~as presented to
the Observatory BY Henry y. Walker, Esq, Of
Detroit, and whose name Is on silver plate
Oh oneof the massive piers which support the
| instrument All honor to him. The Telescope
has length Of eight feet and clear aperture
| feet in, diameter; they are divided from two
to two,minutes, while By the aid Of tie mic
rbmctera In the microscope, and they can oe
| read to the Il0th uf aseeond. At night the d.
vision Of the circles is illuminated By stationary
lampa.;.
| North and south OF the Telescope Of the
Meridian Circle are the Coili1uatoss, used for
| .he adjustment OF the circle, and are the In
stfuments employed for asccrtaining the hori-
zontal point, Or, iu other wo.ds, for aiming or
taking sight. -, TIE Circle and thet"o Conlma'
The large Telescope mounted in the dome,
was made by Henry Fi,z Of New York, and
cost 81, 40. 1t has clear aperture Of twelve
and a.half inches and length Of seventeen and
a~talf feet. The object glass Is excellent and
does great honor to ". Eitz; Tho mounting
was made under Mr. Fitz's directions by MF.
Phelps. It is furnished with Al Hour aud Dc
ci:,ation circle, the one reading: to seconds Of
zine, the other to len aeconds Of arc. By
these means tho dis'au of any object from
the celestial equator, either northTaEd or
southwark, eau be ast erta:red With much ac-
| clracy and lnlnutencss. These, however, arc
merely used for setting the instrument The
Telescope il moved BY clock. k.woFk, enl is the
finest ever manufactured In this country, and
in power aud size is only exceeded BY two IN
the world. :
The Observatory also possesses fine comet
seeker Of four inches aperture, made by Mr.
Fitx
" bile writing the above, We were reminded
Of IN ingenious contrivance for recording the
direction and intensity Of the wind, to which
:he attention Of the Academy was called, By
Prot. Lapham on List Wednesd, y while On our
WY to Ann Arbor, the invention Of Il gentle
utan Of that city.
There is al q Chorograph, By which the
observations made With the Meridian Circle,
is well as those with the Rcfractor, can be re-
co7dcd. THIS instrument is in the west end OF
the building, and by lnrans Of communities
tion With the observer, he records his obserra-
lions, WHICH in order to he done correctly, re-
l'iEcs great dellcacy Of touch. It was made
by Richard F. Bond, Of Boston. The cost of
the whole Observatory was s41,0
Here the different parties we're engaged from
two to four r. II in asking questions, receiy-
Ing explanations, witnessing tho mnnucr OF
using the Instruments, and hoping that the
clouds which hung over them would be re.
moved, and give them the much desired
glimpse Of the heavens through the telescopes.
| Tits boon, however, was not vpnch:afcd unto
Us, causinS all to feel that they had not seen OF
learned all they wished which, In OUT opln'
| inn tTHS RaHrnce Of tho inf n r pff
and proof positive of the success Of the excur
sion. 4 few moments before We left the Or.
=cryatory, faint prospect of its Il clearing up
sas noticed 10 the west. and with this ho,.e
our obli.iny friend, Prof Brunnow, announced
tint i tie sky 1cas clear at : o'clock, he would
hs happy TO meet u again, and remain al
| light, or rs long is the company desired.
Tic hour for Prof W:nchells lecture hay.
ing arrived, VIC left the Observatory, highly
Instructed and edited, and under great obi
cations to it's Director.
The evening stlll continuing cloudy, the ex
cuzsionists INSTEAD Of going 10 sec the 31oon
amused themselves as their inclinatious dc
tated. Quite number attended Fair helG
In Rogers Hall. for tic benefit Of the Eriscu
;.s' Sunday School Of that place, while other:
we're entertained at My Lord Mayors"
: On Friday morning the ground was covered
With snow, which was made use Of by ou'
friends to give us some iien Of Michigan
s!eishing, and seeing the town generally. i
is finely situated, and contains many handsome
residences, and Judging from what we saw, il
Cuion School Building and its fine grounds
attracted much attention, and ju=tly so, as i
Is one Of lie chief ornaments Of the town
| From what we know and SAW, We here cheer
fa''y end with truth say that Michigan th'
reason to be proud of Eer school sy.k1a, ant
sitter States would profit by her example
/ | Watch with q Jealous eve. people Of Michigan