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Ladd Observatory

Coordinates: 41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W / 41.83889°N 71.39917°W / 41.83889; -71.39917
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Ladd Observatory
OrganizationBrown University
LocationProvidence, Rhode Island, USA
Coordinates41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W / 41.83889°N 71.39917°W / 41.83889; -71.39917
Altitude226 feet (69 m)
WeatherSee the Clear Sky Chart
Established1891 (1891)
WebsiteLadd Observatory
Telescopes
Brashear / Saegmuller12" refractor
Saegmuller80 mm transit instrument
Ladd Observatory
Ladd Observatory is located in Rhode Island
Ladd Observatory
Ladd Observatory is located in the United States
Ladd Observatory
LocationProvidence, Rhode Island, USA
Coordinates41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W / 41.83889°N 71.39917°W / 41.83889; -71.39917
Built1891
ArchitectStone, Carpenter & Willson
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.93000583
Added to NRHPJune 6, 2000
Ladd Observatory is located in the United States
Ladd Observatory
Location of Ladd Observatory
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The Ladd Observatory is an astronomical observatory of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The observatory was dedicated in 1891 and is named for benefactor Herbert W. Ladd who funded the construction.[1]

History

Construction

Ladd Observatory was designed by the Providence-based firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[2]

Telescope

The main telescope is a 12-inch (30 cm) refractor with a lens made by John Brashear following the design of Charles S. Hastings. The equatorial mount and mechanical clock drive were made by George N. Saegmuller.

Timekeeping

Besides astronomical research and education, Ladd sent out a time signal for decades. When they decided to stop the service in the 1970s, they discovered that nobody was actually receiving it.[3]

Associations

Astronomers associated with Ladd include Winslow Upton. Frank W. Very, Frederick Slocum, Robert Horace Baker, and Charles H. Smiley.

H. P. Lovecraft had free access to the observatory for several years and wrote astronomy articles for Providence newspapers based upon his study there between 1906 and 1918.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Arnold N. Robinson & Carla Swanson (June 6, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Ladd Observatory (including accompanying 5 photos, from 1992)" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "National Register Asset Details". The Focus Digital Asset Management System. National Park Service. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. ^ Mitchell, Martha (1993). "Ladd Observatory". Encyclopedia Brunoniana. Providence, RI: Brown University Library.
  4. ^ Loucks, Donovan K. (29 March 2006). "H.P. Lovecraft's Interest in Astronomy". The H.P. Lovecraft Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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