The McMath-Hulbert Solar Observatory is a

solar observatory A solar telescope or a solar observatory is a special-purpose telescope used to observe the Sun. Solar telescopes usually detect light with wavelengths in, or not far outside, the visible spectrum. Obsolete names for Sun telescopes include helio ...

in Lake Angelus, Michigan, USA. It was established in 1929 as a private observatory by father and son Francis Charles McMath and

Robert Raynolds McMath Robert Raynolds McMath (May 11, 1891 – January 2, 1962) was an American solar astronomer. McMath was a bridge engineer, businessman, and astronomer. His father, Francis C. McMath, had made a fortune as a bridge builder. They both had a ke ...

and their friend, Judge Henry Hulbert. In 1932 the observatory was deeded to the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

which operated it until 1981, at which time it was sold into private ownership again. In 1932 a reflector telescope was added to the observatory as well as a spectroheliokinematograph . This instrument was designed to take motion pictures of the Sun. The McMath-Hulbert Solar Observatory is primarily known for the motion pictures that the McMaths made of various celestial phenomena, including the first movies of

solar prominence In solar physics, a prominence, sometimes referred to as a filament, is a large Plasma (physics), plasma and magnetic field structure extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in a loop shape. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface ...

s in motion. Later work involved solar

spectroscopy Spectroscopy is the field of study that measures and interprets electromagnetic spectra. In narrower contexts, spectroscopy is the precise study of color as generalized from visible light to all bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Spectro ...

in the

near infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those o ...

and participation in a

solar flare A solar flare is a relatively intense, localized emission of electromagnetic radiation in the Sun's atmosphere. Flares occur in active regions and are often, but not always, accompanied by coronal mass ejections, solar particle events, and ot ...

patrol program in the 1950s. Robert McMath and one of the resident astronomers, Keith Pierce, established the

McMath–Pierce solar telescope McMath–Pierce solar telescope is a 1.6 m F-number, f/54 reflecting telescope, reflecting solar telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, United States. Built in 1962, the building was designed by American architect Myron Goldsmith ...

at Kitt Peak Observatory near

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

in 1962. The McMath-Hulbert Solar Observatory is currently under private ownership but is run by a small non-for-profit organization of amateur astronomers.

References

External links

Timeline of McMath-Hulbert Observatory
or astronomy weather forecasts for McMath-Hulbert {{DEFAULTSORT:McMath-Hulbert Observatory Astronomical observatories in Michigan University of Michigan Solar telescopes 1929 establishments in Michigan Buildings and structures in Oakland County, Michigan

See also

References

External links