Ladd Observatory

Ladd Observatory

Organization	Brown University
Location	Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Coordinates	41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W / 41.83889°N 71.39917°W
Altitude	226 feet (69 m)
Weather	See the Clear Sky Chart
Established	1891
Website	Ladd Observatory
Telescopes
Brashear / Saegmuller 12" refractor Saegmuller 80 mm transit instrument Ladd Observatory U.S. National Register of Historic Places Location Providence, Rhode Island, USA Coordinates 41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W / 41.83889°N 71.39917°WCoordinates: 41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W / 41.83889°N 71.39917°W Built 1891 Architect Stone, Carpenter & Willson Architectural style Classical Revival NRHP Reference # 93000583 Added to NRHP June 6, 2000
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The Ladd Observatory is an astronomical observatory of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The observatory was dedicated in 1891 and is named for benefactor Herbert W. Ladd who funded the construction.^[1]

History

Construction

Ladd Observatory was designed by the Providence-based firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.^[2]

Telescope

The main telescope is a 12-inch (30 cm) refractor with a lens made by John Brashear following the design of Charles S. Hastings. The equatorial mount and mechanical clock drive were made by George N. Saegmuller.

Timekeeping

Besides astronomical research and education, Ladd sent out a time signal for decades. When they decided to stop the service in the 1970s, they discovered that nobody was actually receiving it.^[3]

Associations

Astronomers associated with Ladd include Winslow Upton. Frank W. Very, Frederick Slocum, Robert Horace Baker, and Charles H. Smiley.

H. P. Lovecraft had free access to the observatory for several years and wrote astronomy articles for Providence newspapers based upon his study there between 1906 and 1918.^[4]

See also

• List of observatories
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence, Rhode Island

References

1. Arnold N. Robinson & Carla Swanson (June 6, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Ladd Observatory (including accompanying 5 photos, from 1992)" (pdf). National Park Service.
2. "National Register Asset Details". The Focus Digital Asset Management System. National Park Service. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
3. Mitchell, Martha (1993). "Ladd Observatory". Encyclopedia Brunoniana. Providence, RI: Brown University Library.
4. Loucks, Donovan K. (29 March 2006). "H.P. Lovecraft’s Interest in Astronomy". The H.P. Lovecraft Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2016.

• Donnelly, Marian Card (Winter 1960). "Astronomical Observatories in New England". Old-Time New England (Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) 50 (179): 72–80. Retrieved 7 January 2016.

External links

• Ladd Observatory blog
• Ladd Observatory Clear Sky Chart Forecasts of observing conditions.