Iso-Heikkilä Observatory
Encyclopedia
Iso-Heikkilä Observatory is an amateur
astronomical observatory
in the Iso-Heikkilä
district of Turku
, Finland
. It was operated by the University of Turku
from 1937 to 1972 but is now used by a local division of Ursa Astronomical Association
.
. It was built in 1935 and 1936, and technically designed by physics and astronomy professor Yrjö Väisälä
. Väisälä's research team discovered a total of 807 minor planet
s and 7 comet
s in the observatory. Väisälä also contributed significantly to research in the areas of optics
and surveying
.
As the city expanded and a steel factory was built under a kilometer away from the observatory, the astronomy department of the university moved to Tuorla Observatory
in the 1950s. Iso-Heikkilä remained in the use of students for some time, until the university gave up its ownership completely in 1972. The observatory is now used by the Turku department of Ursa Astronomical Association
and owned by the city of Turku.
In the 1960s, an apartment building area was built in Iso-Heikkilä, preventing any observations of low-sky objects in all directions except north.
s made by Yrjö Väisälä and a 19 cm Schmidt-Väisälä camera
. In the past, the dome has housed a 50 centimeter wide-angle camera which is nowadays located in the Kevola Observatory
– it was the telescope used to discover the aforementioned minor planets and comets.
Another pillar that remains today is located 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) to the southwest from the previous one, across the railway.
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
astronomical 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...
in the Iso-Heikkilä
Iso-Heikkilä
Iso-Heikkilä is a district of the city of Turku, in Finland. It is located to the west of the city centre, bordering on the city centre's VIII District ....
district of Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. It was operated by the University of Turku
University of Turku
The University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...
from 1937 to 1972 but is now used by a local division of Ursa Astronomical Association
Ursa (Finland)
Ursa Astronomical Association is the largest astronomical association in Finland. Ursa was founded on 2 November 1921. Founding members include a renowned Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä. In 1926 Ursa established the Ursa Observatory in Kaivopuisto district of Helsinki. Ursa's primary functions...
.
History
The observatory was originally owned by the department of astronomy of the University of TurkuUniversity of Turku
The University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...
. It was built in 1935 and 1936, and technically designed by physics and astronomy professor Yrjö Väisälä
Yrjö Väisälä
Yrjö Väisälä was a Finnish astronomer and physicist.His main contributions were in the field of optics, but he was also very active in geodetics, astronomy and optical metrology...
. Väisälä's research team discovered a total of 807 minor planet
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
s and 7 comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s in the observatory. Väisälä also contributed significantly to research in the areas of optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
.
As the city expanded and a steel factory was built under a kilometer away from the observatory, the astronomy department of the university moved to Tuorla Observatory
Tuorla Observatory
Tuorla Observatory is the Department of Astronomy at the University of Turku, southwest Finland. Currently it is the largest astronomical research institute in Finland...
in the 1950s. Iso-Heikkilä remained in the use of students for some time, until the university gave up its ownership completely in 1972. The observatory is now used by the Turku department of Ursa Astronomical Association
Ursa (Finland)
Ursa Astronomical Association is the largest astronomical association in Finland. Ursa was founded on 2 November 1921. Founding members include a renowned Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä. In 1926 Ursa established the Ursa Observatory in Kaivopuisto district of Helsinki. Ursa's primary functions...
and owned by the city of Turku.
In the 1960s, an apartment building area was built in Iso-Heikkilä, preventing any observations of low-sky objects in all directions except north.
Instruments and facilities
The observatory has two 6-meter domes in the East-West direction. The main instruments of the association are located in the western dome: the 15 and 13 centimeter telescopeTelescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s made by Yrjö Väisälä and a 19 cm Schmidt-Väisälä camera
Schmidt-Väisälä camera
The Schmidt-Väisälä camera is a type of astronomical telescope intended for wide-field photographic work. It was designed by Yrjö Väisälä.-Invention and design:...
. In the past, the dome has housed a 50 centimeter wide-angle camera which is nowadays located in the Kevola Observatory
Kevola Observatory
The Kevola Observatory is located in Kevola in Paimio in South-Western Finland, some 35 km east from the city of Turku. The observatory is currently owned by Turun Ursa ry, a local astronomical association operating in Turku area...
– it was the telescope used to discover the aforementioned minor planets and comets.
Datum line
In the forest further away from the observatory, about 200 metres (656.2 ft) to the northeast, is a concrete pillar used by Yrjö Väisälä in the 1940s in his datum line measurements. The Väisälä comparator has been used in important datum line measurements around the world.Another pillar that remains today is located 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) to the southwest from the previous one, across the railway.