By 1808Delaware
Owned by Ohio Wesleyan University, Perkins Observatory was founded in 1923 thanks to a donation from Professor Hiram Perkins, who provided around $250,000 (equivalent to $3.8 million today) of the $350,000 construction budget.
The observatory features a large telescope, as well as facilities like a lecture room, library, office space, and workshops. The telescope mirror was cast in the United States, helping launch the optical glass industry in the country.
Perkins Observatory is a major center for astronomy education and public outreach in central Ohio. It hosts hundreds of public programs each year, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors. The observatory offers telescope workshops, solar observation events, and custom programs for schools and groups. However, the observatory’s facilities are relatively modest, and it cannot accommodate large crowds for major astronomical events like the 2024 solar eclipse. The observatory will be closed to the public during that eclipse.
Overall, Perkins Observatory plays an important role in astronomy research and education in the region, despite its relatively small size compared to larger observatories.
Professor Perkins, who taught mathematics and astronomy at OWU, had a vision of establishing an important astronomical observatory. Construction began in 1923 when the 90-year-old Perkins attended the groundbreaking ceremony as the guest of honor. However, Perkins and his wife Caroline both passed away before the observatory was completed in 1924.
The building features a large telescope as well as facilities like a lecture room, library, offices, and workshops. The telescope mirror was cast in the United States, helping launch the optical glass industry in the country. This was a key requirement specified by Professor Perkins.
Over the decades, Perkins Observatory has served as an active research and educational facility for Ohio Wesleyan University. It has also hosted hundreds of public programs each year, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors. Notable astronomers like the director of Griffith Observatory and John Dobson, inventor of the Dobsonian telescope, have visited and lectured at Perkins Observatory.
Sources: Wikipedia; OWU; Columbus Astronomical Society; Observatories of Ohio; TripAdvisor
