Bubble sextant
Astronomy
Navigation
Surveying
Measuring instruments
Wood, metal alloy, plastic
Marked property Air Force-US Navy, type A-10A. Probably WW II era. Blackened aluminum casting, containing clockwork, lenses, mirrors, buddle level, and rubber eyecup. In fitted wooden box. A small rugged aircraft sextant for military use.
Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, New York
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
circa 1944
Michael Svec
Copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A207
University ID 16800-16805
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Cabin sidereal clock
Astronomy
Clocks
Aluminum, brass, glass
There are two sidereal clocks, both are electric. The first is 9 ½-inch diameter with a 8-inch dial, black metal base, brass and glass, 3 hands.
The second smaller clock 5 ¼-inch diameter, tag indicates a date of 1966.
A 1953 ad shows the electric sidereal clock with a rating of less than one minute slow in 16 years. Cast aluminum case with bronze bezel for $40.
Haines Scientific Instruments, Englewood, New Jersey
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
about 1966
Michael Svec
copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A225.1, A225.2
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Celestial globe
Astronomy
Globe
Education
Paper, metal stand
16-inch Celestial Globe by Denoyer-Geppert Company, Chicago, circa 1956. Blue sky with black and yellow stars, constellation borders, lines, and figures included.
Also a 16-inch celestial globe by George F. Cram's, Indianapolis Indiana.
Denoyer-Geppert Company, Chicago, Illinois
George F. Cram's, Indianapolis Indiana.
University of Illinois
circa 1950s
Michael Svec
Copyright, Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Collimator lens and meridian mark
Astronomy
Optical instrument
Metal, glass
Measures 8 ¼ x 6 x 11 ½ inches, lens is 1.7” in diameter.
Director G.W. Myers articulated the need for a Meridian or mire Mark in a March 6, 1897 letter to university President Draper. “Mire mark and Collimator for 3-inch Combined and Transit and Zenith Telescope.” The collimator was mounted in the north window of the east-central transit room on a brick pier, cased in wood above the level of the floor, with a wooden box as a cover. The wood reduces the impact of the brick’s radiant heating. The meridian mark was located on a distant pier north of the building at the focal point of the collimator lens. The Meridian mark was removed with the construction of Smith Hall (1917), the pier for the collimator was removed during the 1956 expansion of the Observatory. At the Elgin Watch Company Observatory (Illinois), there was also a 3-inch Warner & Swasey transit with a meridian mark 100 feet to the north consisting of a metal plate with a hole three thousandth of an inch in diameter serving as an artificial star.
Warner & Swasey Company
Payne, W.W. (1927 January) Elgin Observatory. Popular Astronomy. 35 (1) 1-9.
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
1897
Michael Svec
Copyright by Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A136
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Compass
Astronomy
Navigation
Surveying
Measuring instruments
There are three Astro Compass Mark II, in green wooden boxes with canvas handles. It can be pointed at a known star, including the sun, and used to indicate true north. Manual included.
Sperti Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
circa 1943
Michael Svec
Copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A231.1, 231.2, 231.3
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Conical log-spiral antenna
Astronomy
Electric apparatus
Radio telescope
Measuring instrument
Wood, metal
Base is 8-inch in diameter and it is 19 ½ inches long.
Design of the array element was done by Professor John D. Dyson. Installed on the Vermilion River Radio Observatory's 400 x 600 foot cylindrical radio observatory, in operation between 1960 and 1970.
University of Illinois
Swenson, George. “The Illinois 400-foot radio telescope.” IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Newsletter, vol. 28, no. 6, pp.13-16, December 1986.
Sky and Telescope, December 1962, page 322
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
1960
Michael Svec
Copyright, Michael Svec
still image of physical artifact
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
DC Voltmeter
Electrical apparatus
Measuring instrument
Wood, metal, glass
Weston DC voltmeter model #38635, dated September 1, 1923. Two scales 0-15 and 0-150. Box measures 7 ½ x 4 ½ x 7 ½ inches. Scale has mirrored scale.
Weston Electrical Instruments Company, Newark, New Jersey
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
circa 1923
Michael Svec
Copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A195
University ID 16727, obs779
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
DC Voltmeter
Electrical apparatus
Measuring instruments
Wood, metal, paper, glass
Model 45, No. 32664, in oak box measuring 7 7/8 x 5 3/8 x 7 7/8 inches, with leather handle, 2 scales 0-150, 0-15. Paper label dated November 5, 1926. All hardware is nickel-plated brass. The front panel and meter face plate are of heavy cast iron with a fine diamond pattern on the casting. Iron parts have a "japanned" black enamel finish. The binding posts are of black Bakelite. The meter has a mirrored scale
Weston Electrical Instruments Company, Newark, New Jersey
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
circa 1926
Michael Svec
Copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A227
University ID 16768
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Double frame bridge sextant
Astronomy
Navigation
Surveying
Measuring instruments
Wood, metal, glass
Fitted keystone wood box with hinged lid and two hook latches. Black metal frame with brass screws, silver scale and wood handle. Includes 3 black painted telescopes, 1 eyepiece cover, 8-½ inch radius, eyepiece to read vernier, signed on brass radius “M. Berge London.” Matthew Berge worked in London 1800 until his death in 1820. Since it was not listed by Stebbins in 1906 and considering its age, this might be a later donation to the department.
Matthew Berge, London
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
pre-1820
Michael Svec
Copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A232
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois
Drum chronograph
Astronomy
Clocks
Measuring instrument
Time recording device
Furniture
Metal, wood, glass
The chronograph, made by Warner and Swasey, is permanently mounted in the clock room. Includes wooden box (9 ¼ x 6 ¼ x 50 ¾ inches) connected to counter-weights and pulleys attached to the ceiling. It consists of a brass cylinder 7-inches in diameter and 14-inches long onto which paper is attached. The driving mechanism is housed to the immediate left of the cylinder. The driving mechanism consists of a spinning governor for regulation and weights to provide the power. A pen is carried on the armature of an electromagnet through which, when current flows, makes a tick mark on the rotating paper. It is possible to measure the time and duration of an event to a hundredth of a second accuracy (depending on how accurately the clock is set).
The weight driven gears still work although the system needs cleaning. The armature and drum still work. The paint on the chronograph is cracking.
The chronograph is connected to the Observatory’s clocks, which provide tick marks every second, and to a key, usually by a transit telescope. An astronomer hits the key when an event occurs and a tick mark is left on the paper with the second tick marks. By recording events this way astronomers can concentrate on the telescope observations and can read the times from the paper at a more convenient time. The chronograph continued to be use in association with the clocks through the 1960s for timing lunar occultation’s and transits.
Warner & Swasey Company
Todd, David P. (1897) A New Astronomy. American Book Company: New York. Page 213.
Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
1896
Michael Svec
Copyright Michael Svec
image/jpg
English
physical object
University of Illinois Observatory Collection A116
University ID 016668, obs36
University of Illinois Observatory, Urbana, Illinois