The Racine Astronomical Society held
its first meeting in August of 1956 at the Racine YWCA.
The goal of the organization was to promote interest
in astronomy among the Racine area public. In 1960 the
Racine Astronomical Society began a not-for-profit corporation.
Through the generosity of two local
business executives, A. B. Modine, Founder of Modine
Manufacturing Company, and H. M. Benstead, Chief Executive
Officer of the Western Publishing Company, construction
of an observatory began in 1961. These funds were used
to purchase 3.5 acres of land, construction of the observatory
and the 16 inch telescope.
Ground
Breaking |
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Club members were involved in both the
design and construction of the observatory and the telescope.
The telescope and building were both built with the
newest technology available at the time. As an example
the concrete pier used to support the telescope was
the tallest single pour done in Southeast Wisconsin
at the time. The dome used was only the second dome
built by Ash Dome at the time. This dome is still in
use on the smaller building.
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Observatory
Construction |
The club members did the design of the
telescope but many local industries helped with the
fabrication of the parts of the telescope. Local manufacturers
fabricated the patterns for the molds, cast the parts,
heat treated the necessary parts, and machined the parts.
The telescope mount itself weighs 2 tons. Many other
local businesses donated parts and materials needed
for the construction. In the end the out of pocket cost
for the telescope was only $2500.
Telescope
Mount
Installation
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The telescope mirrors were made at Kitt
Peak Observatory. At the time the 16 inch telescope
was the envy of all amateur astronomers. The telescope
still performs as flawlessly today as it did when it
was completed. The dedication for the observatory and
telescope was held in October 1963.
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