View source for Organization:Warner and Swasey Observatory

{{Coord|41|32|10|N|81|34|6|W|type:landmark_region:US-OH|display=title}}
{{Infobox Observatory
|name = Warner and Swasey Observatory
|image = [[Image:Warner and Swasey 9.5inch refracting telescope.jpg|200px]]
|caption = The rooftop telescope with the dome open
|organization = [[Organization:Case Western Reserve University|Case Western Reserve University]]
|location = Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
|coords = {{Coord|41|32|10|N|81|34|6.5|W|type:landmark_region:US-OH|display=inline}}
|altitude =
|weather =
|established =
|closed =
|website=
|telescope1_name = Burrell Schmidt Telescope
|telescope1_type = 24" Schmidt
|telescope2_name = Rooftop Telescope
|telescope2_type = 9.5" refractor}}

The '''Warner and Swasey Observatory''' is the astronomical [[Astronomy:Observatory|observatory]] of [[Organization:Case Western Reserve University|Case Western Reserve University]]. Named after Worcester R. Warner and [[Biography:Ambrose Swasey|Ambrose Swasey]], who built it at the beginning of the 20th century, it was initially located on Taylor Road in East Cleveland, Ohio, USA.  The observatory, which at that time housed a {{convert|9.5|in|cm|adj=on}} [[Astronomy:Refracting telescope|refractor]], was donated in 1919 to the Case School of Applied Science. The newer {{convert|24|in|cm|adj=on}} Burrell [[Astronomy:Schmidt telescope|Schmidt telescope]] was built in 1939.

Due to rising [[Astronomy:Light pollution|light pollution]] in Cleveland, a new station in Geauga County's Montville Township was established in 1950s. Named after Jason John Nassau, the station initially housed the Burrell telescope, which was later moved to [[Astronomy:Kitt Peak National Observatory|Kitt Peak National Observatory]]. Instead of Burrell the station was equipped with the 36-inch robotic telescope. In 2008 Nassau Station was sold to the Geauga Park District and subsequently incorporated into its Observatory Park.

The observatory currently operates the old 9.5-inch refractor (now known as the rooftop telescope) at the university's University Circle campus, and the Burrell Schmidt telescope at [[Astronomy:Kitt Peak National Observatory|Kitt Peak National Observatory]] in Arizona. The old site on Taylor Road was sold in 1983.

==History==
[[Image:Warner and Swasey Observatory.jpg|thumb|upright|The Taylor Road facility of the Warner and Swasey Observatory]]

The observatory was originally built by Worcester R. Warner and Ambrose Swasey, owners of Warner & Swasey Company, which made precision instruments and [[Astronomy:Telescope|telescope]]s in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They became trustees of the Case School of Applied Science (later renamed to Case Institute of Technology), and built an observatory in East Cleveland, which they gave to the school in 1919. This original observatory building was located on Taylor Road four miles east of the university campus and housed a 9.5-inch [[Astronomy:Refracting telescope|refractor]], and was dedicated in 1920. The building was designed by the firm of Walker and Weeks.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Cleveland Legacy: The Architecture of Walker and Weeks |last=Johannesen |first=Eric |date=1998 |publisher=Kent State University Press |location=Kent, Ohio |isbn=0-87338-589-6 |pages=87–88 |url=http://upress.kent.edu/books/Johannesen.htm}}</ref> In subsequent years the observatory grew to house several more telescopes and instruments, such as the 24-inch Burrell Schmidt telescope, as well as an astronomical library and public lecture hall.<ref name=History>{{cite web|last=Claspy|first=William|publisher=Warner and Swasey Observatory, Case Western Reserve University|title=History of the Warner and Swasey Observatory|url=http://astrwww.cwru.edu/history.shtml|date=2006|access-date=2009-08-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509072403/http://astrwww.cwru.edu/history.shtml|archive-date=2008-05-09}}</ref>

In the 1950s, it became apparent that the [[Astronomy:Light pollution|light pollution]] from Cleveland was beginning to make cutting-edge research impossible from the East Cleveland site. A new site was constructed 30 miles to the east in Geauga County, known today as the Nassau Station, and the Burrell Schmidt telescope was moved to this location. In order to compensate for the move, a 36-inch telescope was soon installed at the Taylor Road facility.<ref name=History/>

In 1978, the Astronomy Department of [[Organization:Case Western Reserve University|Case Western Reserve University]] made a deal with the [[Organization:Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy|Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy]] (AURA) to build a new observatory at [[Astronomy:Kitt Peak National Observatory|Kitt Peak National Observatory]] to house the Burrell Schmidt. The telescope was moved from Ohio to Arizona in May 1979, and in 1980 the 36-inch [[Astronomy:Reflecting telescope|reflector]] on Taylor Road was moved to the Nassau Station. This meant no further astronomical work was done at the Taylor Road facility, and as a result the faculty and resources of the original observatory were moved to the main campus of Case Western Reserve University in 1982.<ref name=History/> The Taylor Road facility was sold in 1983, was abandoned, and remained neglected until 2005 when it was sold to a couple who planned to convert the building into a [[Engineering:House|residence]].<ref name=flipline>{{cite web|title=The History....|url=http://www.flipline.com/wso/history.html|access-date=2009-08-18|publisher=The Warner & Swasey Observatory Restoration project|last1=Elek|first1=Tim|last2=Neff|first2=Matt|last3=Solary|first3=Tony|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704065403/http://flipline.com/wso/history.html|archive-date=2008-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=O'Malley |title=Family's New Focus: Turning Old Observatory Into Home |url=http://www.cleveland.com/whateverhappened/plaindealer/index.ssf?/whateverhappened/more/observatory.html |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |date=2005-09-07 |access-date=2009-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607163203/http://www.cleveland.com/whateverhappened/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fwhateverhappened%2Fmore%2Fobservatory.html |archive-date=2011-06-07 }}</ref> The plans stalled when its new owner was convicted of [[Finance:Mortgage fraud|mortgage fraud]] and sent to prison in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=O'Malley |title=Nayyir Al Mahdi's dream of turning observatory into home ended with indictment |url=http://www.cleveland.com/whateverhappened/plaindealer/index.ssf?/whateverhappened/more/nayyir.html |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |date=2008-01-28 |access-date=2009-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607163303/http://www.cleveland.com/whateverhappened/plaindealer/index.ssf?%2Fwhateverhappened%2Fmore%2Fnayyir.html |archive-date=2011-06-07 }}</ref>
Currently, the observatory building is abandoned.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mobile Instinct |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFOp7z8YGC4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/xFOp7z8YGC4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=What's Inside This Forgotten Observatory |date=27 August 2019 |work=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |access-date=20 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Telescopes==
[[Image:The Warner & Swasey Observatory at Kitt Peak National Observatory.jpg|thumb|The Warner and Swasey Observatory at Kitt Peak National Observatory]]

===Burrell Schmidt Telescope===
The 24-inch Burrell Schmidt Telescope was originally built in 1939 by Warner & Swasey Company of Cleveland, Ohio and was housed at the Taylor Road facility.<ref name=Nassau>{{cite journal|last=Nassau|first=J.J.|title=The Burrell telescope of the Warner and Swasey Observatory|date=1945|journal=Astrophysical Journal|volume=101|pages=275–279|doi=10.1086/144719|bibcode=1945ApJ...101..275N}}</ref> It is currently housed at [[Astronomy:Kitt Peak National Observatory|Kitt Peak National Observatory]] near Tucson, Arizona. The telescope recently had its optics upgraded with a very wide field of view CCD array, which is much more sensitive than the [[Physics:Photographic plate|photographic plate]]s. It is the instrument used today by the Case astronomers.<ref name=NewsLetter>{{cite journal|title=New Camera Sees "First Light" on Burrell Schmidt Telescope|url=http://astroweb.case.edu/news/Newsletter092008.pdf|date=September 2008|journal=Astronomy Department Newsletter|publisher=Case Western Reserve University|page=1}}</ref>

===Nassau Station Robotic Observatory===
The Nassau Station, originally constructed in the 1950s, currently houses a 36-inch reflecting telescope. It is named after observatory director Jason John Nassau, who was a prominent astronomer at the time.<ref name=Griffith>{{cite web|first=S.|last=Griffith|date=1997|title=Observatory Upgrades Planned as 40th Anniversary arrives|url=http://www.cwru.edu/pubs/cnews/1997/10-2/observ40.htm?nw_view=1250781578&|access-date=2009-08-20|publisher=Case Western Reserve University}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  Work was carried out in the 1990s to make the telescope capable of remote viewing, making it one of the first telescopes to be used in this manner.<ref name=Sciencedaily>{{cite news|title=CWRU's Nassau Telescope Goes Online In December For Public Use|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/12/981203075623.htm|access-date=2009-08-20|date=3 December 1998|work=ScienceDaily}}</ref> However, it was seldom used by Case astronomers due to increased light pollution from Cleveland and the enhanced capabilities of the Burrell Schmidt. As a result, the observatory was left unused for several years until 2008, when it was sold to the Geauga Park District.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Geauga Park District purchases Nassau Observatory from Case Western Reserve University |url=http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2008/10/09/nassauobservatory |publisher=[[Organization:Case Western Reserve University|Case Western Reserve University]] |date=2008-10-09 |access-date=2009-08-19 |archive-date=2009-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303233515/http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2008/10/09/nassauobservatory |url-status=dead }}</ref> The park district reopened the facility as part of its Observatory Park on June 16, 2012.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joan |last=Rusek |title=Geauga's Observatory Park Opens Early for Historic View of Venus |url=http://www.cleveland.com/west-geauga/index.ssf/2012/06/post_43.html |work=Sun News |date=2012-06-21 |access-date=2012-11-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Lundblad |title=Geauga Park District's Observatory Park Helps Visitors See the Stars |url=http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2012/11/25/news/nh6261754.txt |work=The News-Herald |date=2012-11-25 |access-date=2012-11-26 |archive-date=2013-01-30 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130102519/http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2012/11/25/news/nh6261754.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref> The park was designated as a dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Mangels |title=$2 million Geauga park would preserve a patch of dark sky |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/02/2_million_geauga_park_would_pr.html |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |date=2009-02-24 |access-date=2009-08-19}}</ref>

===Rooftop Telescope===
The Rooftop Telescope is a 9.5-inch refractor that was originally constructed in 1894 by Warner and Swasey for their own use.<ref name=flipline/> The telescope was the first instrument of the Warner and Swasey Observatory and was originally used at the Taylor Road facility, but was put into storage when the Astronomy Department of Case Western Reserve University was relocated to the A. W. Smith building on the main campus. In 1986 the telescope was reinstalled in a new dome on the roof of the A. W. Smith building.<ref name=Cuyahoga>{{cite web|title=Ohio's Observatories: CWRU Observatories|url=http://www.cuyastro.org/ohioobs.html|access-date=2009-08-18|publisher=Cuyahoga Astronomical Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913064335/http://www.cuyastro.org/ohioobs.html|archive-date=2009-09-13}}</ref>

The telescope remains in excellent condition today and is available for use by all students, faculty, and staff at CWRU once they go through a seminar on proper telescope use.<ref name=Cuyahoga/> It is also often used for public observing nights by the university's Physics and Astronomy Club.

==Research==
[[Image:Burrell Schmidt telescope at the Warner & Swasey Observatory at Kitt Peak.jpg|thumb|upright|The Burrell Schmidt telescope at the Warner and Swasey Observatory at Kitt Peak National Observatory]]

Observers using the Warner and Swasey Observatory have made important contributions to astronomical research.  An early example is work carried out by the observatory's then director, Jason Nassau, on the classification of [[Astronomy:Carbon star|carbon star]]s and [[Astronomy:Stellar classification|M-type stars]] in 1949;<ref name=Blanco>{{cite journal|last=Blanco|first=Victor M.|journal=Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics|volume=39|issue=1|pages=1–18|date=September 2001|doi=10.1146/annurev.astro.39.1.1|title=Telescopes, red stars, and Chilean skies|bibcode=2001ARA&A..39....1B|doi-access=free}}</ref> more recently, observations made using the Burrell Schmidt telescope led to the discovery of the galaxy [[Astronomy:Andromeda VIII|Andromeda VIII]] in 2003. This galaxy orbits the more famous [[Astronomy:Andromeda Galaxy|Andromeda Galaxy]], and was previously undiscovered due to its position in front of the bright disk of the parent galaxy.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Morrison|first=H.L.|author2=Harding, P. |author3=Hurley-Keller, D. |author4= Jacoby, G. |date=2003|title=Andromeda VIII: A New Tidally Distorted Satellite of M31|journal=Astrophysical Journal|volume=596|issue=2|pages=L183–L186|bibcode=2003ApJ...596L.183M |doi=10.1086/379625 |arxiv=astro-ph/0309254|s2cid=8727115}} ([http://www.noao.edu/outreach/press/pr03/cwru0301.html Observatory press release])</ref>  The Burrell Schmidt has also recently been used to image the intracluster light in the [[Astronomy:Virgo Cluster|Virgo Cluster]].  The intracluster light is a thousand times fainter than the night sky, and was observed after combining seventy images of the cluster which were taken with the Burrell Schmidt telescope.<ref name=Virgo>{{cite web|last=Mihos|first=C.|display-authors=0 |date=2005 |title=Diffuse Light in the Virgo Cluster |url=http://astroweb.case.edu/hos/Virgo/|access-date=2009-08-18}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Astronomy:List of astronomical observatories|List of astronomical observatories]]
* Sidney Wilcox McCuskey
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=http://astrwww.cwru.edu/history.html |title=History of the Warner and Swasey Observatory and Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907132100/http://astrwww.cwru.edu/history.html |archive-date=2006-09-07}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/WSOPP/ Warner and Swasey Observatory Preservation Project]
* [https://www.geaugaparkdistrict.org/parks/observatorypark.shtml Observatory Park] (Geauga Park District)



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[[Category:Astronomy institutes and departments]]

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