Cunningham Township in Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Astronomical Observatory
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023
1. The Astronomical Observatory Marker
Astronomical Observatory
constructed in 1896
has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 40° 6.317′ N, 88° 13.569′ W. Marker is in Urbana, Illinois, in Champaign County. It is in Cunningham Township. Marker can be reached from South Mathews Avenue south of West Oregon Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is approximately 175 feet west of the southern terminus of South Mathews Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 901 S Mathews Ave, Urbana IL 61801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Morrow Plots (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Illini Supersweet Corn (about 600 feet away); Channing-Murray Foundation/Unitarian Church of Urbana (about 600 feet away); Creation of Research Library (about 600 feet away); Public Broadcasting (about 700 feet away); Modern Pork Industry (about 700 feet away); Anthropology and Society (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Urbana.
this page online
Regarding The Astronomical Observatory. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:
During the state legislative session of 1895, a sum of fifteen thousand dollars was appropriated for a new astronomical observatory at the University of Illinois. … the structure was built to replace a smaller observatory located further north and west, closer to the heart of campus.
The University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory is significant as the location of the development of the selenium cell and the photoelectric cell which revolutionized the science of astronomical photo-electric photometry – the measurement of celestial magnitudes.…
The credit for the science of modern photoelectric astronomical photometry is given to Joel Stebbins (1878-1966). Stebbins did his pioneering research in the field during the period from 1907 to 1922 while he was director at the Illinois Observatory.
Also see . . .
1. University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory (PDF). National Register nomination for the observatory, which was listed in 1986. (National Archives) (Submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Joel Stebbins. His early administration [at Illinois] was marked with many changes: the
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023
2. The Astronomical Observatory Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 46 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
