1. Reopened in April, 2001. The public observing nights and the presentations on astronomy are run by undergraduates who love astronomy.

2. Built in 1895 from sandstone left over from Denny Hall and was thus the 2nd building on campus.

3. Predates the observatory by 3 years: purchased in 1892 and was originally located at the downtown campus, 4 th Avenue and University. Refractor with a 6” objective lens Warner & Swasey equatorial mount 90” focal length

4. c. 1904 Used to observe transits of stars--when stars pass the “line” that runs from due North to due South Used to set clocks accurately--obsolete when the atomic clock was invented.

5. Astronomy was originally part of the UW math department. First professor was Joseph Taylor (who was in charge of purchasing the telescope -- $2000 in 1891 dollars.)  Dr. Theodor Jacobsen founded the modern astronomy department.  Was the only astronomy professor until the early 1960’s. His office in the observatory still has his name on it.  Dr. Jacobsen passed away in early 2003, a few months after his 102 birthday.