Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, founded by the astronomer George Ellery Hale, with funding from the Chicago transport magnate Charles Yerkes, and operated by the University of Chicago. Its main instrument is a 40-inch refracting telescope, which is still the largest refractor ever used for astronomical research, since larger telescopes use mirrors instead. Many leading astronomers worked there, including Edwin Hubble, Gerard Kuiper and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and the observatory contributed to the field of astrophysics. Its academic role declined in the later twentieth century, and the university closed it in 2018. The buildings have since been taken over by a foundation that plans to preserve them.
Before and after
- from 1 August 1894 to 17 April 1895First Sino-Japanese War
- December 1894Construction of Reichstag
- from December 1894 to September 1895Second Madagascar expedition
- from 15 December 1894 to 23 October 1896First Italo-Ethiopian War
- 1895Founding of Yerkes Observatory
- from 1895 to 1898Cuban War of Independence
- 1895Founding of London School of Economics and Political Science
- 1895Founding of West Ham United F.C.
- from 1895 to 1958Founding of French West Africa
More in Universe & space
- 8 March 1772Discovery of Biela's Comet
- 1839Founding of Harvard College Observatory
- 7 August 1839Founding of Pulkovo Observatory
- 10 October 1845Founding of United States Naval Academy
- 6 November 1892Discovery of Comet Holmes
- 28 December 1904Discovery of 19P/Borrelly
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.