Paper Session 2 Chair: Ken Launie

The 190-Year Story of the Wilbur Fisk Telescope – Roy E. Kilgard, Horace A. Smith, John W. Briggs, and Trudy E. Bell

In 1835, Wilbur Fisk, the first president of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and future professor Harvey Lane went to Paris to purchase scientific instruments for the young university. The following year, Fisk spent six thousand francs on a six-inch telescope made by Lerebours. At the time of its arrival in the United States, it appears to have been the largest-aperture refractor in the country. Using archival and published written sources, as well as the telescope itself, we trace the instrument’s history, including its purchase, its early “hen house” observatory, its equatorial mounting, its retirement in 1868, its return to use for the solar eclipses of 1925 and 1932, and its remounting at the Van Vleck Observatory in 1959. We will share a few anecdotes about observing with the Fisk telescope when it was in the Van Vleck Observatory’s second dome. Today, the Wilbur Fisk telescope is on public display at the observatory.

Roy E. Kilgard is Professor of the Practice in Astronomy at Wesleyan University. He obtained a PhD from the University of Leicester, studying X-ray source populations in nearby galaxies. His research covers a broad set of topics related to black hole growth and evolution across the mass spectrum, from X-ray binaries to Seyfert galaxies and changing look quasars. His historical research has so far centered on topics related to the Van Vleck Observatory and its occupants over the last century.

Horace A. Smith earned an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University, where he spent many nights observing with the Fisk telescope. He received a PhD degree in Astronomy from Yale University and, after two years at the Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, California, became professor of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University, where he now holds emeritus status. 

John W. Briggs is a past-president of the Antique Telescope Society and is curator of the Astronomical Lyceum in Magdalena, New Mexico, an informal museum, library, lab, and lecture hall. After a career in instrument engineering and observatory operations, John is currently working to develop the Mountain View Observatory Association, Inc., also in Magdalena. He was elected as the first secretary of the new Alliance of Historic Observatories, an international organization, and he serves as the program chair of the annual Enchanted Skies Star Party, started in 1994. He is the recipient of the 2025 G. Bruce Blair Award of the Western Amateur Astronomers.

Trudy E. Bell (M.A., New York University), t.e.bell@ieee.org), is a member of the editorial advisory board of Springer’s Historical & Cultural Astronomy book series, and also is a contributing editor to Sky & Telescope magazine. She has been an editor for Scientific American and IEEE Spectrum magazines and senior writer for the University of California High-Performance AstroComputing Center (UC-HiPACC). She is a recipient of the Dudley Observatory’s Herbert C. Pollock Award and the American Astronomical Society’s David N. Schramm Award. Asteroid (323552) is named in her honor.

“Jeffrey Shy and Early Astronomy at the College of William & Mary: A Forgotten Episode in the History of American Astronomy” – Wayne Orchiston

Back in 2001 I designed a new 1-semester-long internet-based compulsory double unit on astronomical history for the Master of Astronomy course that we pioneered at the University of Western Sydney in Australia. Apart from weekly coursework, all of the students were required to carry out an original research project and produce a Project Report, the equivalent to a mini-MSc thesis. 

One of the 25 US students enrolled in the course was Jeffrey Shy, who chose to research the early astronomical history of his alma mater, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Jeffrey produced an outstanding Project Report, which was subsequently converted into a research paper and published in a 2002 issue of the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. Despite this, most US astronomical historians seem unaware of Jeffrey’s paper, so I would like to help rectify this by outlining his major findings. I suspect that some of them will astound you.

Professor Wayne Orchiston, (B.A. Hons, PhD., University of Sydney; wayne.orchiston@gmail.com) is associated with the University of Science and Technology of China and the Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland (Australia). A former President of IAU Commission C3 (History of Astronomy), he is the Co-founder and current Co-editor of the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, and a Co-Editor of Springer’s series on Historical and Cultural Astronomy. Wayne has supervised 35 History of Astronomy graduate students and published 15 books—mainly on Asian, Australian and New Zealand astronomy. He has wide-ranging research interests. In 2019 he and former graduate student Dr Stella Cottam were awarded the AAS’s Donald E. Osterbrock Book Prize, and in 2024 he received the AAS’s Le Roy E. Doggett Prize for Historical Astronomy. In 2013 minor planet 48471 Orchiston was named in his honor, and in 2023 Springer produced a festschrift to celebrate his 80th birthday. Wayne is founding-Director of the large and dynamic Historical Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, and is one of only three Honorary Members of that Society.

The Storied History of Tulane’s Calver Telescope – John Martinez

Here I discuss the history of a particular early 20th century telescope built by English instrument maker George Calver. Calver produced thousands of excellent mirrors and designed his own equatorial mounts as well. One of Calver’s telescopes, a 13-inch f/10 Newtonian, was purchased and used by planetary astronomer and Harvard University Professor William H. Pickering around 1920. Pickering soon relocated the telescope to an observing station in Jamaica which had excellent atmospheric seeing conditions for planetary observations, owing in part to the relatively elevated position of the ecliptic. Over time and through the twists and turns of fate and bananas, the Calver telescope found its way to Tulane University in New Orleans.

John Martinez is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and a retired Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope fellow. 

The Reverend E.L.Berthon, a Victorian inventor, and his astronomical “legacies” – Denis Buczynski

The Reverend Edward Lyon Berthon may be best known for his design of the Romsey Observatory, but his inventiveness resulted in not only a range of innovative astronomical instruments and accessories, but also foldable lifeboats and the screw propeller, items that may have been ahead of their time.

Denis Buczynski, originally from Lancaster in Lancashire, now lives at Portmahomack on the Tarbatness Peninsula, after retiring there in 2010. He is currently the Secretary of the Comet Section of the British Astronomical Association and Associate Editor of  ‘The Astronomer Magazine’. He has served on the Council of the BAA and was the Director of its Deep Sky Section in the 1980’s. He was awarded an Honorary MSC degree at The University of Lancaster in 1995 for his contributions to National and International Astronomy. He was selected for the Steavenson Award of the BAA (its observational award) in 1999. 

Asteroid 8166 was named after him by the International Astronomical Union in 2001. He delivered “The George Alcock Memorial Lecture” in 2015 to the British Astronomical Association.  In 2017 he was selected for the ‘Alan Young’ award for best cover picture for ‘The Astronomer Magazine’. In 2020 he won the ‘George Alcock’ award for best overall contribution to ‘The Astronomer Magazine’. He has established an observatory at his home to observe comets and other transient objects that appear in the night sky.

Lunch Break and General Discussion: Another chance to chat with others informally.

Virtual Observatory Tours
Chair: Alan Agrawal. 

A progress report on a major telescope restoration for a new public observatory in Brooklyn, NY – Alan Sliski

A civic group in New York called Pioneer Works is planning a new public observatory.  Adopting the “go big or go home” principle for telescopes, they purchased an 1895 antique 12.5-inch refractor made by Warner and Swasey with a Brashear objective.  I was asked to go and fetch the telescope from Ohio and restore it to at least its former glory.  I will describe the disassembly and transport of the telescope and the cleaning and refinishing process for the 3 tons of telescope parts.  A few parts are missing and some needed to made new from scratch.  The original mechanical clock drive disappeared for about 40 years and will be restored and put back in the telescope working.  The presentation will go into more detail about the clock drive.

Alan Sliski has a background in physics, electronics, mechanics and many other things.  By day, he designs radiation therapy equipment for treating cancer.  At other times, he restores old telescopes for himself and others.  Some projects include the 1852 Alvan Clark at Williams College, the 15-inch Merz and Mahler Great Refractor at Harvard, a 1925 Zeiss 130mm Alt-Az refractor, a 1931 Fecker 4-inch observatory telescope, and a 10-inch Warner and Swasey equatorial. A new significant project is restoring the 12.5-inch McMillin refractor by Warner and Swasey and Brashear.

Salvaging and Refurbishing a Large Askania Optical Rail for Testing and Demonstrations – John W. Briggs

The German firm Askania was created in 1921 but grew out of the earlier firm of Carl Bamberg.  Of many scientific, technical, and military products, Askania made observatory telescopes like the 1-meter Schmidt camera and double 50-cm astrograph for Venezuela.  In 1967, Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Lab received a large optical bench (also called an optical rail) from Askania-Werke GMBH at a cost of $47,601.  The apparatus, with accessories including a 150-mm f/15 triplet collimator, was used to characterize many of the as-built cameras flown by JPL for 20th century solar system exploration.  By 2020, JPL was ready to surplus the apparatus, and the hardware was acquired at public auction in 2021 by the Astronomical Lyceum and transported to New Mexico.  The presentation will report progress refurbishing the apparatus by Dr. Mial Warren and the presenter including initial results testing objectives from the Sommers-Bausch Observatory of University of Colorado and from the Astronomical Lyceum’s collection.

John W. Briggs is a past-president of the Antique Telescope Society and is curator of the Astronomical Lyceum in Magdalena, New Mexico, an informal museum, library, lab, and lecture hall.  After a career in instrument engineering and observatory operations, John is currently working to develop the Mountain View Observatory Association, Inc., also in Magdalena.  He was elected as the first secretary of the new Alliance of Historic Observatories, an international organization, and he serves as the program chair of the annual Enchanted Skies Star Party, started in 1994.  He is the recipient of the 2025 G. Bruce Blair Award of the Western Amateur Astronomers.

Zeiss Telescopes Tour – Dan Schechter

I will be describing two Zeiss refractors. The first will be the “Pawn Stars Zeiss” and the second will be a 80mm Type A Zeiss I purchased from an auction based in Stutgart, Germany. I will set both of them up in my hopefully sunny back yard and will try to give about 20 minutes each. I will show and describe them both “live from Long Beach.”

Dan Schechter: I have been interested in Astronomy since “Halley’s Comet” and began collecting antiques in about 2006 with a purchase of a 3″ Alvan Clark refractor. My collection of Clarks, Brashears, Zeiss etc. has grown quite a bit. Along the way I have travelled to see about 12 Total Solar Eclipses (I lost count) and luckily, have only been clouded out once:

Image credit: Dan Schechter

I was also fortunate enough to have my Hale Bopp image selected to be displayed by NASA in their 400-year discovery of the telescope exhibition called FETTU (From Earth to the Universe) that was widely seen by more than 1,000,000 people:

Image credit: Dan Schechter

16:30 – 17:30 

As we’ve done in the past, we will set up breakout rooms to give attendees a chance to talk with speakers about various topics of the day 

Join us for a welcome message and opening remarks from the Antique Telescope Society president, Bart Fried.

Paper Session 1 Chair: Ken Launie

From Dorpat to Yerkes:
Some Factors in the Evolution of Nineteenth-Century U.S. Telescope Design – Trudy E. Bell, M.A.

Joseph von Fraunhofer’s groundbreaking 9.6-inch (23 cm) refracting telescope completed in 1824 for the Russian Imperial Observatory in Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia)—earliest example of what is now known as the German equatorial mount—was hugely influential on the design and general morphology of nineteenth-century refracting telescopes installed in U.S. observatories. But these subsequent refractors were *not* identical to the Dorpat instrument, because the Dorpat refractor—as brilliant as it was—had structural engineering aspects that did not scale well at greater apertures, or that were fundamental design shortcomings that later astronomers and instrument makers sought to improve or to customize. Moreover, alterations were essential not only for visual observing but also for the new technologies of photography and spectroscopy later in the nineteenth century. Quite apart from any engineering plans that may have been drawn, the evolution of many design changes is preserved in details of engravings or photographs of recently completed individual refracting telescopes published in periodicals, instrument catalogues, and books at the time, as well as written descriptions of changes and their practical nightly usefulness. 

Trudy E. Bell (M.A., New York University), t.e.bell@ieee.org), is a member of the editorial advisory board of Springer’s Historical & Cultural Astronomy book series, and also is a contributing editor to Sky & Telescope magazine. She has been an editor for Scientific American and IEEE Spectrum magazines and senior writer for the University of California High-Performance AstroComputing Center (UC-HiPACC). She is a recipient of the Dudley Observatory’s Herbert C. Pollock Award and the American Astronomical Society’s David N. Schramm Award. Asteroid (323552) is named in her honor.

How Did We Get Herschel’s 20-Foot Telescope? – David DeVorkin

Some astronomers have been great observers; others, great telescope builders; and others, great theorists.  William Herschel was all three. In 1781 he became the first person in recorded history to discover a major planet: now called Uranus.  This achievement brought him worldwide fame as King George III’s court astronomer.  Herschel built and used the most powerful astronomical telescopes of his day.  He took every opportunity to observe the heavens and used his observations to develop theories about the size and structure of the Universe.  

The National Air and Space Museum has had an original Herschel 18.5-inch mirror and 20-foot wooden telescope tube on display since 2001 (actually 9/11) in its “Explore the Universe” gallery, which closed few years ago. But when “Discover Our Universe” opens, Herschel’s telescope will be back on display.  

Over the years visitors have sometimes asked, “How did you get that?” My talk for you today answers that question.  

Dr. David DeVorkin is senior curator, emeritus, of the history of astronomy at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. DeVorkin’s research and collections center on the origins and development of modern astrophysics and the space sciences during the 20th Century.  He has curated numerous exhibitions and is the author/editor/compiler of some 20 books and more than 125 scholarly and popular articles.  Dr. DeVorkin holds a PhD in the history of astronomy from the University of Leicester and an MPhil in astronomy from Yale University. 

New Light on an Old Telescope – Fernando Jorge Ivanauskas

Newly found historical records illuminate the early story of the Henry Fitz telescope, today preserved at the AAA in Uruguay. Letters and notes from Rutherfurd, Fitz, and Lettsom provide a timeline for the instrument and reveal the process by which it eventually made its way to the Southern Hemisphere 

Fernando Jorge Ivanauskas is an amateur astronomer and long-time member of the Uruguayan Amateur Astronomical Association, which he joined as a teenager. For the past 20 years, he has been researching the origins and journey of the Association’s Henry Fitz telescope — the oldest astronomical instrument on record to have arrived in Uruguay. Alongside this passion, he works as a software engineer. He enjoys giving talks and sharing the history of the Fitz telescope, helping today’s audiences connect with the scientific spirit of the 19th century.

Reverend Espin’s Telescope at Close House – David James Hughes

The Reverend Thomas Henry Espinell Compton Espin was a multifaceted figure whose life was characterized by a passion for astronomy, scientific exploration, and dedicated service to his community.  Espin’s early years were marked by a deep interest in astronomy, which blossomed into a lifelong pursuit after witnessing Coggia’s Comet in 1874. After completing his education at Exeter College, Oxford, Espin embarked on a career in the clergy, serving as curate and vicar in various parishes. Despite his clerical duties, he remained deeply engaged in scientific endeavours, constructing observatories and conducting astronomical observations. His pioneering work with X-rays, following Rontgen’s discovery, provided valuable diagnostic and therapeutic benefits to his community. Espin acquired a 24” Newtonian reflector built by the legendary telescope builder, George Calver, which he installed at Tow Law in County Durham. Espin’s contributions to astronomy were significant and varied. He meticulously documented and cataloged red stars, making important discoveries in the field. Later in his career, he focused on the study of double stars, personally discovering and mapping over 2,500 pairs. His dedication to astronomical research earned him recognition from prestigious scientific societies worldwide. Espin’s 24” telescope was used extensively after Espin’s death in 1930 although it fell into disuse and was eventually dismantled sometime in the 1950s. Worse, the main telescope tube was cut in half and converted into a feed trough for farm animals. 

In 1962, Mr. David Sinden, then the Optical Workshop Manager at Sir Howard Grubb Parsons located what remained of the telescope and set about rebuilding the instrument. Upon completion in 1972, the telescope was donated to Newcastle University for use in their Undergraduate Astronomy programme at Close House near Wylam. Sadly, Close House was sold by the University in 2005 and the telescope was abandoned. There have been numerous requests to rescue the telescope since 2005 although all have failed thus far. In this session, David will talk about the history of the telescope, its contribution to observational astronomy and the plans for the future of this remarkable instrument.

David James Hughes FRAS has been an amateur astronomer for nearly fifty years. 

Prior to going up to University to study astronomy and astrophysics, David worked as a trainee for the Master Optician, David Sinden, formerly the Optical Workshop Manager at Sir Howard Grubb Parsons Ltd. 

After University, David went into industry as a software engineer. At the same time, he developed side careers as a musician and as a science educator, giving more than four hundred public talks across the north east of England over a twenty-year period, covering a diverse range of subjects including space physics, telescope design, science fiction, electronic music and astronomy. David joined the WEA organisation as a lecturer in 2013, and led classes on astronomy and computer programming. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2019. In 2024, David became involved with the Espin Telescope Recovery Group, with the aim of rescuing and restoring the Reverend T. H. E. C. Espin’s 24” Calver telescope, which had been abandoned by its former owners. 

Lunch Break and General Discussion: Another chance to chat with others informally.

Virtual Observatory Tours
Chair: Alan Agrawal. 

Chabot Observatory – Richard Ozer

Richard Ozer will be giving a brief and informal tour of the Chabot Observatory’s historic telescopes; Leah,the 8″ Alvin Clark, and Rachel, the 20″ Brashear refractor.

Richard Ozer is a volunteer telescope operator for the two instruments, as well as director of the Chabot Telescope Makers’ Workshop.

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) – A Virtual Tour of KSO and Astronomical Facilities – Dr. Ebenezer Chellasamy

Kodaikanal Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. Originally known as the Madras Observatory, its legacy dates back to 1786 under the British East India Company. The historic 6-inch equatorially mounted telescope was installed in 1898, and regular white-light solar observations began in 1904.

The Kodaikanal Tunnel Telescope (KTT) is a three-mirror system featuring a 62 cm diameter primary mirror connected to a backend grating, used for studying sunspots in the CaK 3933 Å spectral line. Additional instruments such as the Hydrogen-alpha, WARM, and Spectro telescopes facilitate observations of the lower chromosphere. Archival full-disk solar images have now been digitized for modern research applications. A recent addition to the observatory is the radio telescope, which observes solar emissions in the 30 to 150 MHz range. The observatory is open to visitors year-round, offering public access on all 365 days. This virtual tour will guide participants through the various solar observation facilities at Kodaikanal and highlight some of the significant discoveries made at this historic site.

The Gemini Observatory Enters and New Era in Astronomy – Peter Michaud

Having reached the milestone of 25 years of science operations, the 8-meter International Gemini Observatory is only a quarter of the way to being an “antique” as often defined. During this period, Gemini has contributed greatly to humanity’s understanding of the Universe from the twin telescope’s perches on Maunakea in Hawai‘i and Cerro Pachón in Chile. In this presentation, Peter Michaud, who has recently retired after serving for 27 years as manager of the Observatory’s Education and Engagement program, will highlight selected milestones at Gemini. His talk will share how the world of professional astronomy is changing in light of new facilities like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory which is leading the advancement of Time-domain astronomy. Finally, Peter will relate to the role amateurs have historically played in supporting professional astronomers and how that role is changing in the age of big mirrors and big-data.

Peter Michaud started his journey exploring the cosmos as a teenager when he was hooked with his first view of Saturn through a 6-inch telescope. His passion led him to co-found a local astronomy club (now the New Hampshire Astronomical Society), grind glass to make multiple reflecting telescopes – his largest to date is a 12.5” Dobsonian – and struggle to capture images on film of his favorite celestial objects (he now uses much more sensitive electronic detectors). Among his bucket-list goals is to grind and polish a refracting telescope.

Over his diverse career spanning almost 50 years in astronomy, he has held positions ranging from teaching high school physics and astronomy, running planetariums in Arlington VA, and Honolulu HI, and, most recently, leading the education and outreach program at the Gemini Observatory in Hawai‘i and Chile (now part of NSF’s NOIRLab) for almost 30 years until he retired in 2025. Over the span of his career, Peter is passionate about engaging and inspiring the public to explore the Universe while traveling the world to experience astronomy, observatories and especially total solar eclipses.

Peter has immersed himself in the moon’s shadow seven times starting with the 1991 eclipse from the summit area of Maunakea in Hawai‘i. In his most recent capacity as head of Education and Engagement at the Gemini Observatory, he considers himself fortunate to have traveled extensively to visit many world-class astronomical facilities and communicate the discoveries of the Gemini Observatory. 

In addition to eclipses, astrophotography and telescope making, Peter loves bicycling, building tube amplifiers and speakers, tinkering, and spending time with his family – a son and daughter who live nearby on Hawai‘i Island – and landscaping (mostly pulling weeds!) Peter lives with his partner Carolyn in Hilo Hawai‘i and plans to stay in Hawai‘i in his retirement.

Peter holds a degree in Atmospheric Physics and Physical Science Education for Plymouth State University (where he also ran the University’s planetarium), interned at the Strasenburgh Planetarium in Rochester NY, and at the Mount Washington Weather Observatory, home of the “World’s Worst Weather!”

16:30 – 17:30 

As we’ve done in the past, we will set up breakout rooms to give attendees a chance to talk with speakers about various topics of the day