Clarence T. Jones Observatory

Astronomical observatory in Tennessee, US

Observatory

Location of Clarence T. Jones Observatory

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Clarence T. Jones Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Chattanooga, Tennessee (US), owned and operated by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

History

The building was completed in 1936, and opened in 1938. Construction of the observatory and telescope were funded by a Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works grant for the students of Chattanooga's public schools at the urging of prominent local amateur astronomer Clarence T. Jones. Jones designed the facility. In 1944, the facility was transferred to the university (then the University of Chattanooga) via a 99-year lease and astronomy was added to the university curriculum.^[1]^[2]

The telescope is a Cassegrain reflector type with a 20.5-inch (52 cm) primary mirror. The mirror is one of many made by Corning Incorporated as a part of the research that allowed the pouring of the 200-inch mirror for the Hale telescope.^[1]

The observatory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2009.^[2]

The observatory has several nights of public lessons and viewing between the months of October and April.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b "History". Clarence T. Jones Observatory. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Sohn, Pam (December 16, 2009). "Observatory, church, stadium added to National Register". Chattanooga Times Free Press.
^ "Clarence T. Jones Observatory". University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Retrieved February 21, 2014.

External links

Official website

Chattanooga, Tennessee area landmarks

Current

Bridges/dams	Chickamauga Dam Market Street Bridge Olgiati Bridge Tenbridge Veterans Memorial Bridge Walnut Street Bridge Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge
Commercial	Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel Chattanooga Market Delta Queen Eastgate Towne Center Enterprise South Industrial Park Hamilton Place Mall Northgate Mall The Read House Hotel Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant
Educational	Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences Clarence T. Jones Observatory First Baptist Church Education Building
Governmental	Chattanooga State Office Building Solomon Federal Building
Historic districts	Ferger Place Historic District Fort Wood Historic District Market Street Warehouse Historic District Moccasin Bend St. Elmo Historic District
Monuments	Chattanooga National Cemetery Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Ross's Landing
Museums	Creative Discovery Museum Hunter Museum of American Art International Towing Museum Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Parks and wildlife	Bonny Oaks Arboretum Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park Cherokee Arboretum at Audubon Acres Chickamauga Lake Cloudland Canyon State Park Nickajack Lake Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center Tennessee Aquarium Tennessee River Tennessee River Blueway Tennessee Riverwalk
Performing arts	Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium Tivoli Theatre
Religious	Asbury United Methodist Church First Baptist Church First Presbyterian Church Mizpah Congregation Northside Presbyterian Church Saints Peter and Paul Basilica Second Presbyterian Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church Wiley United Methodist Church
Residential (former)	Seamour and Gerte Shavin House
Tourist attractions	Lake Winnepesaukah Lookout Mountain Incline Railway Raccoon Mountain Caverns Rock City Ruby Falls