Alvan Clark refractor telescope located in the third floor Observatory - Room 59. · Eastern Michigan University Archives

Alvan Clark refractor telescope located in the third floor Observatory - Room 59.

Title: Alvan Clark refractor telescope located in the third floor Observatory - Room 59.
Description: This image depicts the Alvan Clark refractor telescope (large), and the Brandis transit telescope (small). The Alvan Clark 4'' refractor telescope, purchased in 1872 for about $300; Brandis transit telescope purchased in 1876 for $680.00 (small scope sitting under larger telescope). Both of these telescopes were placed in the observatory dome after construction was completed in 1881. In 1893 a tornado carried the observatory dome twenty-five feet, and while both of the telescopes were able to be repaired after the disaster the Brandis was unfortunately lost in the Sherzer Hall fire of 1989. About half of Sherzer was gutted during the fire, marking it one of the most devastating events in our university’s history. The Alvan Clark telescope is currently housed in the Sherzer Observatory.
Publisher: Gibson Studio
Subject: Astronomy, Black-and-white photography, Telescopes, Planetariums, Observatories,
Location: Michigan State Normal School, Ypsilanti, MI

Item sets: Class of 1892 Photograph Collection--World's Columbian Exposition