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5 unusual facts about Allegheny Observatory


Allegheny Observatory

The core of the building is a small rotunda, housing an opalescent glass window depicting the Greek muse of astronomy, Urania.

James Edward Keeler

Keeler worked at Lick Observatory beginning in 1888, but left after being appointed director of the University of Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory in 1891.

His ashes were interred in a crypt at the base of the 31-inch Keeler Memorial telescope at the Allegheny Observatory.

These observations were made with a spectrograph attached to the 13-inch Fitz-Clark refracting telescope at Allegheny Observatory.

Mu Cassiopeiae

In 1961 the close binary nature of this system was discovered by Nicholas E. Wagman at the Allegheny Observatory.


William Thaw, Sr.

He underwrote the building of the Allegheny Observatory for John Brashear, considered at the time one of the ten best in the world.


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