The Allegheny Observatory was founded on February 15, 1859 in the city of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. (Allegheny has since been incorporated into the city of Pittsburgh. The observatory's initial purpose was for general public education as opposed to research, but by 1867 the revenues derived from this had receded. The facility was then donated to the Western University of Pennsylvania, which later became the University of Pittsburgh. Among other research purposes, the observatory presently searches for extrasolar planets. February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1859 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Allegheny is the name of several places in the United States: Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Allegheny, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Allegheny Mountains Allegheny National Forest Allegheny River Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania Allegheny Tunnel See also: Allegheny Airlines Allegheny Technologies Allegany This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... State nickname: The Keystone State Other U.S. States Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell Official languages None Area 119,283 km² (33rd) - Land 116,074 km² - Water 3,208 km² (2. ... City nickname: The Steel City Location in the state of Pennsylvania Founded 1758 Mayor Tom Murphy (Dem) Area - Total - Water 151. ... 1867 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The University of Pittsburgh is a highly selective university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... Infrared Image of a possible extrasolar planet (lower left) in the Constellation Taurus, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. ...
The AlleghenyObservatory at the University of Pittsburgh is significant because of its association with the careers of astronomers Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834-1906), James Edward Keeler (1857-1900), and telescope maker John Alfred Brashear (1840-1920).
Langley was professor of astronomy and physics at the University from 1867 to 1887 and director of the AlleghenyObservatory.
In 1867 the Allegeheny Observatory was transferred to the Western University of Pennsylvania, the forerunner of the University of Pittsburgh.
The AlleghenyObservatory was created by a group of civic-minded citizens of old Allegheny who formed the Allegheny Telescope Association in 1859.
Because of the Observatory, the hill came to be called Observatory Hill, and, between 1890 and 1908, also became the campus of the Western University of Pennsylvania, now the University of Pittsburgh.
Three other American observatories co-operated by focusing their telescopes on that star the night of May 27 and catching its light in a photo-electric cell, which transformed the beam into electricity which was transmitted to Chicago.
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