Ladd Observatory
July 2003 :
The observatory is located on "high ground" at the corner of Hope Street and Doyle
Avenue on the East Side of Providence. Despite its being surrounded by a neighborhood
of multi-story houses, one still commands a great view of the surrounding cityscape
from atop the second story deck adjacent to the observatory dome.
Unfortunately we are more interested in looking upward from this vantage point,
and the extremely light-polluted sky seriously diminishes what can been seen with the
naked-eye. Fortunately the observatory houses a 112 year-old, 12-inch Brashear
refractor that is absolutely perfect to use for observing the planets, the Moon and
double stars, as well as a few of the bright "deep sky" objects like the Orion Nebula
and the great globular cluster M13 in Hercules, just to name a few. Here's a little
background on this wonderful facility open to the public every Tuesday night.
If you want something really bad, you usually have to pour your heart and soul
into the process to obtain your desired goal. That philosophy is not lost on
construction of Ladd Observatory. The story goes that Professor Winslow Upton,
Professor of Astronomy at Brown, threatened to resign if an observatory was not
forthcoming. Upton's threat was taken seriously, for in 1891 Ladd Observatory was
built, a gift to Brown from Governor H.W. Ladd. The building was typical of the
style observatory being erected across the country, a two-story brick structure
topped by a copper dome. Well, Upton's persistence paid off. He not only got his
observatory, but also was appointed Ladd's first director.
When you visit Ladd Observatory today, its like taking a step back in time. Of
course things have changed, but the character of the building harkens us back to an
earlier time.
As you view the observatory from the corner of Hope and Doyle it appears much the
way it did over 100 years ago. The surrounding property has changed dramatically
(more about that latter), but the western end of the structure has not significantly
changed.
When you first enter the observatory there will be a guest sign-in book
immediately to your left. If you are in a hurry to observe, take the stairway a few
feet away on your left up to the dome, or you may proceed to the far end of the
building to take the "new" elevator. If you have more time, check out the back two
rooms. They contain a variety of historical information that may interest the first-
time visitor.
There is a small, cozy meeting room where one may attend a lecture on a variety
of astronomical topics. Another side room contains wall panels with a gallery of
antique astronomical images backlit to reveal their glory. It's a unique and
historical room that has hardly changed since I first visited the observatory in the
mid 1970's. This room also features a small homemade star-projector that can project
the constellations upon a vinyl dome hung from the ceiling. Up to 12 people can sit
underneath this planetarium to learn star pattern identification.
At the far end of the observatory one can find the old transit room. This is
where an observer would use a transit telescope to time stars crossing the local
meridian, an imaginary north-south line passing through the observatory. Local time
could then be precisely established, which was not only needed for astronomical
calculations, but also for deriving civil time. Ladd Observatory was responsible as
a time keeping service for the Providence area. And speaking of time, please note the
various clocks throughout the observatory. They were an important piece of this time
keeping tradition.
But the most impressive room in this building can be found atop those stairs just
inside the main entrance. When you enter into the huge dome you'll be amazed at the
sight that will greet you. Center stage is a 15-foot long Brashear refracting
telescope, housing a 12-inch in diameter lens, sitting atop a massive mount. Though
seemingly cumbersome, this wonderful instrument is so precisely balanced it can be
easily maneuvered to any position in the sky with just a slight nudge.
Likewise, the huge dome, with a slit that can be opened to provide a pathway for
starlight (or planet light, etc) to reach the telescope, can also be easily rotated
by a geared pulley system. It's all accomplished manually. If it weren't for the
light pollution that offends your eyes through the slit or the traffic noise that
offends your ears, one can imagine stepping back in time to 1891 when the observatory
was built.
I've experienced some great views through this wonderful instrument over the
years. My old friend and former Skyscrapers member John Briggs, a noted telescope
historian, called the Ladd Brashear telescope "majestic." I couldn't agree more. You
can take our word for it, or you can come to the same conclusion yourself when you
visit. Mars is going to be quite revealing through this instrument in late August
when it makes its closest approach to the Earth in centuries.
During renovations a few years ago (1999), some important improvements were made
to the observatory. None of these affected the telescope or the operation thereof.
The major renovation included an elevator to allow handicap accessibility to the
dome. Also, new bathroom facilities, handicap accessible as well, were provided. Most
importantly, the observatory meets all fire code statutes, including a second exit
from the roof.
At the same time, the property was spruced up. More than spruced up. It now looks
like a little part of Blackstone Boulevard a couple of miles away somehow got lost
and ended up on the corner of Hope Street and Doyle Avenues. An old three-story house
on the western side of the observatory was demolished and extensive landscaping was
done. There is a nice walkway with a park bench or two. There are even three on-
property parking spaces. Most visitors park on Doyle Avenue, the road to the right
of the observatory as you are facing it from Hope Street.
Ladd Observatory is open to the public every Tuesday night, weather permitting
of course. For updates on the public observing schedule at Ladd please check out the
website at http://www.physics.brown.edu/pages/astro/ladd/ or call 401-521-5680 for
information.
So there you have it. Another space place in Rhode Island. You may have noticed
that all three space places I have already written about were all in Providence. That
planning was deliberate. Having lived in Rhode Island most of my life, I know how
provincial the natives can be. Most folks don't like to travel far. Dunkin' Donuts
and Home Depot, just to name a few, have cashed in on this mentality. And to think,
we are the smallest state in the union. Woonsocket to Westerly - you've got to pack
a lunch and an overnight bag!!!
Well, in my next installment of "Space Places in Rhode Island," I'm going to make
you do some driving to one of the last few dark sky observatories in our state. You
may require a map, you might seek directions on-line, but I'll leave the lunch and
overnight bag packing decisions to you.
Until next time, keep your eyes to the skies. And remember, Seagrave Observatory
is now open every Saturday night for your viewing pleasure, weather permitting of
course. Visit us at http://www.theskyscrapers.org for information.
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