Yerkes Observatory: Restoring the World’s Largest Refracting Telescope

Grainger Know How ^ | 2/8/23 | Grainger Editorial Staff

[Sequoyah101]

Built by the University of Chicago in 1897 in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, Yerkes Observatory is home to the world’s largest refracting telescope and famous astronomers like George Ellery Hale, Edwin Hubble and Carl Sagan worked and studied there.

...as newer technology emerged the Great Refractor became less relevant, and the university closed the observatory in 2018. A non-profit formed by residents in the nearby Lake Geneva area took control, and in 2020 that group, Yerkes Future Foundation, embarked on a $20 million renovation effort....

Weighing about 82 tons, the Great Refractor is the world’s largest refracting telescope. The University of Chicago transferred ownership of Yerkes Observatory to Yerkes Future Foundation in 2020, leading to plans for restoring the remarkable telescope for research and public viewing.

The 64-foot barrel of the telescope weighs six tons and has two 40-inch diameter lenses.

The Great Refractor’s mount and barrel were featured at the 1893 World’s Fair and assembled at Yerkes Observatory in 1897.

The Great Refractor is supported by a concrete, brick and steel column extending 40 feet into the ground to help protect it from seismic changes.

To help compensate for Earth’s rotation, the telescope pivots on a mount on a pier measuring 65 feet from its base. A small motor on the mount allows the telescope to stay fixed on an object in constant motion.

The telescope features achromatic lenses instead of mirrors used by more modern reflecting telescopes. When the Great Refractor was completed, astronomers switched from refracting to reflecting telescopes, leading to the Great Refractor remaining the world’s largest refracting telescope.

Using the Great Refractor, Yerkes astronomers revolutionized deep-sky astrophotography.

[Hebrews 11:6]

SECOND INSTALLMENT

Now, Allan visited the six churches and sat through their worship services. He filled out every visitor's card he could get his hands on, asking to be contacted. He had one more criterion, and he needed to talk to the pastor. Allan knew that the universe was somewhere between 10 and 17 billion years old (in 1985 that was the best precision available, but more on that later). He wanted to discover what each church's pastor considered to be the age of the universe, because Allan absolutely was not going to sit under a young-earther.

At the time, Hugh Ross had left CalTech, where he was a researcher in astronomy, in order to answer the Lord's call to enter full-time ministry at Sierra Madre Congregational Church. (Now there's a career-change you don't see every day.) Normally, a church growing rapidly first hires a second pastor to oversee Christian education--but not SMCC. Its first hire was Hugh, as its Evangelism Minister. Forty-five years later, Hugh remains as "Minister of Apologetics Emeritus".

As Evangelism Minister, Hugh looked through all the Visitor Cards each week. Suddenly, he was holding Allan Sandage's. Hugh knew Allan from CalTech--could this possibly be the same man?

[Lurker]

I’ve boated past this facility several times. The architecture is classic.

L

[Hebrews 11:6]

THIRD INSTALLMENT

And so Allan's final criterion was immediately satisfied by Hugh's presence on-staff. Allan's church-search was over. But now, Hugh Ross told Allan Sandage he needed to be discipled.

Of course, the elders and pastors at SMCC made sure there was a competent New Believers class, teaching the basics: Assurance of Salvation, Bible, Prayer, etc. It was a twelve-week course, and I was teaching the first third of it before turning over the new believers to the next teacher.

I can report to you that Allan was as sweet and nice a man as I have ever met. The irony was not lost on either of us that the man who had literally looked further than anyone into the physical universe now depended on my help learning about the spiritual realm.

[Hebrews 11:6]

EPILOGUE

About a year later, an incisive book debuted with Allan as its protagonist: Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos. Its ostensible purpose was to present the struggle to determine the age of the universe. It did that by introducing the major proponents of the various views, with Sandage on the long side of the argument at 15-17 billion years. It would take a few more years to settle in on 13.8.

But knowing Allan as I did, I was intrigued by how the author tried to explain Allan's spiritual journey. Apparently, Christianity was not that author's primary language, so his readers got only hints of Allan's new life.

But Allan knew, and so did Hugh and I.

[telescope115]

Good morning, Dan! What an amazing account-to actually have counseled and taught someone of Allen Sandage’s stature! I’m so happy that you had that opportunity to meet him. I’m also glad that someone of his stature in the scientific community didn’t consider himself above God, but looked to Him as the Creator of the Universe.
I am glad that the two of you happened to meet. Were you able to answer any questions he had? Did he become a member of your church?
The concept of science and God going hand in hand doesn’t have to cause any divisions, some scientists seem to totally throw out the existence of God in favor of hard science. Even they can’t answer questions like “what happened before the Big Bang”- the answer is simple to me- GOD HAPPENED.
I was baptized into the Catholic Church, raised Catholic, received all the Sacraments. I don’t have a problem with the Church itself, but with the people in charge of it, much like I do with the people running our country right now.

But I digress. I am glad to be a small part of this forum, and I am extremely fortunate to have met you. Your posts of artwork from Bible stories are most definitely a high point of my day. Thank you for what you are doing, and thank you for sharing your account of Meeting Alan Sandage.

I am definitely going to get his book!

Pete

[telescope115]

Correction: I am going to have to get the book about Alan Sandage…

[Hebrews 11:6]

Were you able to answer any questions he had? Did he become a member of your church?

Yes, Allan became a member and regular attender and participant. It's been four decades, and I don't recall him having any profound questions, just the typical ones of any new believer.

[telescope115]

Wonderful.
I had a couple emails from my friends that went to Yerkes last night.
The temperature was in the 20s, and so were the winds…
🥶🥶🥶

[telescope115]

It’s a beautiful observatory, none like it around this part of the country. The entire floor of the 40” refractor can be raised or lowered as needed.

[SunkenCiv]

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