Allegheny Observatory

A research observatory of the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The present building dates from 1912 but its predecessor was started in 1858 by several Pittsburgh businessmen. Inspired by Donati's Comet of that year, they formed the Allegheny Telescope Association and acquired a 33-centimetre (13-inch) refractor. In 1867, the telescope and observatory were given to Western University in Pennsylvania, the forerunner of the University of Pittsburgh. The first salaried director was Samuel Pierpont Langley. He was succeeded by James E. Keeler, co-founder of the Astrophysical Journal and subsequently director of the Lick Observatory. The 1912 building is equipped with three telescopes. The original 33-centimetre refractor is used primarily for educational and testing purposes. The others are the 76-centimetre (30-inch) Thaw refractor and the 79-centimetre (31-inch) Keeler Memorial Reflector. These continue to be used for research.