Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory Telescope

On a beautiful autumn afternoon, my miniature schnauzer and I took a stroll around the charming Pittsburgh neighborhood of Observatory Hill. Beautiful mansions dating back to the 1800s line the streets and take on a quiet beauty, some restored to their original grandeur. Lawns are neatly trimmed, shaded by the leaves of peaceful trees. Observatory Hill was originally part of Allegheny City, and since its annexation to the city of Pittsburgh in 1907, the district has expanded and developed to become home to nearly 14,000 residents.

Observatory Hill is also home to the Allegheny Observatory, a brilliant treasure with a rich history of its own. It is located at the crest of a high grassy hill. As we walked up the long, winding path to the Observatory, my little dog intent on chasing squirrels and other small animals of the park scampered and pulled at her leash. I on the other hand, was enthralled with the view. Most of Riverview Park was visible as well as much of Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood. I decided to sit on a bench and take in my surroundings. The Observatory building itself looks a little old and tired, but the spectacular two white domes which house the telescopes make it extremely interesting. The domes have huge seams running down the middle where they open for gazing at the heavens.

Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory was created by a group of Allegheny City residents who formed the Allegheny Observatory Society in 1863. Under the leadership of Professor Lucien Bradley, one of the founders of the original Telescope Association, the society raised money for the purchase of a 13-inch telescope and for the construction of the Observatory. Professor Bradley became the first director, but then in 1867, the Western University of Pennsylvania, now the University of Pittsburgh, took over the Observatory as a supplement to their Astronomy Department. John A. Brashear was chosen chairman of the committee of university trustees in charge of observatory affairs. Brashear, a renowned astronomer, and maker of scientific instruments, was one of Pittsburgh's best-loved scientists. "Uncle John" Brashear gained worldwide fame for the excellence of his astronomical lenses and other fine scientific instruments during the half-century he was connected with the observatory. He died at his South Side home in 1920 at the age of 80. It’s important to know because beneath the central section of the Observatory, a crypt contains the ashes of John and Phoebe Brashear. On a plaque nearby is engraved this inscription:

"We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

As I sit and breathe in the fresh air, and look out over the grassy hill, I can’t help but wonder what prompted the Victorians to begin their space explorations. Was it simply the night sky? When you think about it, it is one of the strangest sights imaginable. The tiny stars that catch your eye are all but swallowed up by the black nothingness of space - an entity billions of light-years deep with which we here on Earth have no direct experience. Astronomy in the Victorian era was the domain of wealthy amateurs who founded societies, commissioned telescopes and built observatories. I imagine a well-off nineteenth century couple arriving at the observatory one evening to gaze at the planets, moons and stars. The lady is a vision of elegance and grace in a beautiful dress lavishly trimmed with frills and lace ornately accented with gloves and hat. Her male companion, very upper-class and sharp in his white shirt with a high collar turned down for a winged affect, his black trousers worn close to the leg and long enough to reach the heels of his shoes, and of course a long, single-breasted waistcoat with a stylish top hat. They meet their friends from the society inside the observatory on the first floor of the building, which contains a lecture hall, director's room, laboratories, guest room, and a technical library. Here they listen to astronomical lectures accompanied by illustrations, perhaps by Professor Langley’s assistant, James Edward Keeler. His outstanding drawings of the planets Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, made with the aid of the great 36-inch Crossley reflector telescope, have never been outdone. The society would use new telescope technologies and observations to discuss new theories.

One of the major theories talked about at the time was the nebular hypothesis. According to this theory, the swirling, white patterns observed in the night sky might be new solar systems in their infancy stage composed of gas or dust condensing into a star with debris at the outer edges becoming planets. Another area of discussion for the society might be the idea of a connection between religion and the sciences. One idea was that natural objects show evidence of design, thus showing the existence of a designing God. The harmony between science and faith, mixed with some form of theology of nature, continued to be a mainstream position for most people of science at that time.

Although the work of the Observatory is highly technical, it was always the hope of John A. Brashear that he could some day bring the interesting facts of astronomy to the layperson. Henry C. Frick became interested in this idea and contributed $15,000. Thanks in part to his efforts; the Allegheny Observatory offers public tours on Thursday and Friday each week, from April through October. Tours feature a slide presentation about the observatory and current astronomy, and a guided walking tour of the building and domes. If the sky is clear, tour participants may view the sky through the 13-inch Refractor.