Goethe Link Observatory
Encyclopedia
The Goethe Link Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
near Brooklyn, Indiana
(USA), owned by Indiana University
and operated by the Indiana Astronomical Society. It is named in honour of Dr. Goethe Link
, an Indianapolis
surgeon
, who built it with his private funds. Construction of the observatory started in 1937, and the telescope was first operated in 1939. Link donated the observatory to Indiana University in 1948.
A number of asteroid
discoveries were made there, including 1578 Kirkwood
. These are credited by the Minor Planet Center
under the name "Indiana University," which operated the Indiana Asteroid Program
at Goethe Link from 1949 until 1967 using
a 10 inches (254 mm) f/6.5 Cooke triplet
astrograph
. The asteroid 1728 Goethe Link
was discovered there on October 12, 1964.
When light pollution
began to degrade the Goethe Link Observatory's capabilities in the 1960s, Indiana University built a new facility in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest
officially designated as the Morgan-Monroe Station (MMS) of the Goethe Link Observatories.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
near Brooklyn, Indiana
Brooklyn, Indiana
Brooklyn is a town in Clay Township, Morgan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,598 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Brooklyn is located at ....
(USA), owned by Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
and operated by the Indiana Astronomical Society. It is named in honour of Dr. Goethe Link
Goethe Link
Goethe Link was a noted Indianapolis surgeon who specialized in the treatment of goitre and thyroid problems, developing many innovative surgical techniques for these conditions....
, an Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, who built it with his private funds. Construction of the observatory started in 1937, and the telescope was first operated in 1939. Link donated the observatory to Indiana University in 1948.
A number of asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
discoveries were made there, including 1578 Kirkwood
1578 Kirkwood
1578 Kirkwood, also known as 1944 DF, 1949 TF, 1951 AT and 1952 FK, is an asteroid which was discovered January 10, 1951 at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana by the Indiana Asteroid Program. This program was conceived and directed by Frank K. Edmondson of Indiana University. The...
. These are credited by the Minor Planet Center
Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory , which is part of the Center for Astrophysics along with the Harvard College Observatory ....
under the name "Indiana University," which operated the Indiana Asteroid Program
Indiana Asteroid Program
The Indiana Asteroid Program was a program of photographic asteroid observations made with a 10-inch f/6.5 Cooke triplet astrographic camera at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana. The program was initiated by Frank K. Edmondson of Indiana University in 1949 and continued until 1967...
at Goethe Link from 1949 until 1967 using
a 10 inches (254 mm) f/6.5 Cooke triplet
Cooke triplet
The Cooke triplet is a photographic lens designed and patented in 1893 by Dennis Taylor who was employed as chief engineer by T. Cooke & Sons of York...
astrograph
Astrograph
An astrograph is a telescope designed for the sole purpose of astrophotography. Astrographs are usually used in wide field surveys of the night sky as well as detection of objects such as asteroids, meteors, and comets.-Design:...
. The asteroid 1728 Goethe Link
1728 Goethe Link
1728 Goethe Link is an asteroid in the main belt of the asteroid belt. It was discovered by the Indiana Asteroid Program on October 12, 1964 at the Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana, USA....
was discovered there on October 12, 1964.
When light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
began to degrade the Goethe Link Observatory's capabilities in the 1960s, Indiana University built a new facility in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Morgan-Monroe State Forest is a state forest in Morgan County and Monroe County of Indiana, and is the second largest state forest in Indiana. The comprising this deciduous forest were abandoned farmland, as the previous residents realized that the land's rocky soil was very poor for agricultural...
officially designated as the Morgan-Monroe Station (MMS) of the Goethe Link Observatories.
Further reading
- Ray E. Boomhower, '"The Doctor and the Stars: Goethe Link and His Observatory," Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, v. 19, no. 4, Fall 2007, pp. 17-23.
- Frank K. Edmondson, "Recent Developments at the Goethe Link Observatory," Sky and Telescope, December 1948, p. 34.