Princeton and the telescope

Sizes refer to diameter of lens or mirror

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By Princeton Alumni Weekly
2 min read

Professor Stephen Alexander observes solar eclipses with Munich-made telescope, second-largest in United States.

Observatory of Instruction

Observatory of Instruction

Princeton University Archives

Professor Charles Young teaches with telescope (right, refurbished and now hanging in Peyton Hall) in Observatory of Instruction (on site of today’s Robertson Hall).

Halsted Observatory

Halsted Observatory

Princeton University Archives

Halsted Observatory (on site of today’s Joline Hall) has largest ­telescope in the hemisphere, except for U.S. Naval Observatory. Cast in Paris, the lenses were exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia.

FitzRandolph Observatory

Frank Wojciechowski

FitzRandolph Observatory

Halsted Observatory demolished, replaced by FitzRandolph Observatory near Palmer Stadium; telescope rebuilt using the 1882 lenses.

Lyman Spitzer *38, left, and Martin Schwarzschild

Princeton University Archives

Lyman Spitzer *38, left, and Martin Schwarzschild
Professors Lyman Spitzer *38 and Martin Schwarzschild make regular trips to use this huge California ­telescope.

Model of Stratoscope II, left; Stratoscope I and NASA balloon

Smithsonian NASM (left); U.S. Navy

Model of Stratoscope II, left; Stratoscope I and NASA balloon

Professor Martin Schwarzschild’s ­telescope floats beneath giant NASA ­balloon; Perkin-Elmer quartz mirror can distinguish one toadstool from two at 1,000 miles.  Model is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Goddard Space Flight Center

Professor Lyman Spitzer *38 and his Princeton team design ultraviolet telescope on NASA satellite, a ­precursor to Hubble.

Physics professor David Wilkinson plays key role in NASA satellite that maps microwave radiation from the Big Bang.

NASA

Multibillion-dollar NASA project fulfills Lyman Spitzer’s 1946 vision of “extra-terrestrial ­observatories.”

Apache Point Observatory

Fermilab

Apache Point Observatory

Professor James Gunn designs a telescope at Apache Point in New Mexico that creates the most elaborate map in history.

David Spergel ’82, left, and Lyman Page

Courtesy Lou Tucciarone ’79

David Spergel ’82, left, and Lyman Page
Professors David Spergel ’82, left, and Lyman Page create NASA satellite that follows up on COBE. It maps microwave background fully and revolutionizes cosmology.

Subaru Telescope domes on the summit of Mauna Kea.

© Subaru Telescope/National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Subaru Telescope domes on the summit of Mauna Kea.
Princeton begins 10-year partnership with National Astronomical Observatory of Japan to use one of the world’s largest telescopes, at the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii.

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