Sproul Observatory
Encyclopedia
Sproul Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
owned and operated by Swarthmore College
. It is located in Swarthmore
, Pennsylvania
, United States
, and is named after William Cameron Sproul
, the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania, who graduated from Swarthmore in 1891.
is offered on the second Tuesday of the month by the Physics and Astronomy department
this observatory made numerous claims of planetary systems and discoveries based on astrometry
using the photographic plates made with the 24 in (61 cm) refractor telescope. These plates were found to have a systematic error
that was misinterpreted as the effect of a planetary system
on the parent star. This error was identified as early as 1973 and confirmed by the observatory in the 1980s.
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...
owned and operated by Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
. It is located in Swarthmore
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is named after William Cameron Sproul
William Cameron Sproul
William Cameron Sproul was the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. He was born near Octoraro and Andrew's Bridge, Colerain Township, Lancaster County. He was born in a structure currently known as the John Douglass HouseHe served as a member of Pennsylvania State Senate from 1897 to...
, the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania, who graduated from Swarthmore in 1891.
Tours
An open houseOpen House
Open House may refer to:*Open house , a common school event held in the United States and Canada*Open House , a 1960 album by jazz organist Jimmy Smith*Open House , a 2004 independent film...
is offered on the second Tuesday of the month by the Physics and Astronomy department
Directors
- John A. Miller 1923-1938
- Peter van de KampPeter van de KampPiet van de Kamp , known as Peter van de Kamp in the United States, was a Dutch astronomer who lived most of his life in the United States. He was professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College and director of the college's Sproul Observatory from 1937 until 1972...
1937-1972 - Wulff Heintz 1972-1982
- Sarah L. Lippincott 1982-
Planetary discovery controversies
Under the direction of Peter van de KampPeter van de Kamp
Piet van de Kamp , known as Peter van de Kamp in the United States, was a Dutch astronomer who lived most of his life in the United States. He was professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College and director of the college's Sproul Observatory from 1937 until 1972...
this observatory made numerous claims of planetary systems and discoveries based on astrometry
Astrometry
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
using the photographic plates made with the 24 in (61 cm) refractor telescope. These plates were found to have a systematic error
Systematic error
Systematic errors are biases in measurement which lead to the situation where the mean of many separate measurements differs significantly from the actual value of the measured attribute. All measurements are prone to systematic errors, often of several different types...
that was misinterpreted as the effect of a planetary system
Planetary system
A planetary system consists of the various non-stellar objects orbiting a star such as planets, dwarf planets , asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and cosmic dust...
on the parent star. This error was identified as early as 1973 and confirmed by the observatory in the 1980s.
External links
- Sproul Observatory
- Barnard's Wobble
- The Cunningham Building: Swarthmore's Other Observatory — Sproul Observatory