For Immediate Release August 6 2024 

Cincinnati Astronomical Society to re-dedicate observatory celebrating the centennial of historic telescope.

Cincinnati OH - The Cincinnati Astronomical Society (CAS), one of the nations oldest and largest amateur astronomy organizations, plans to re-dedicate the observatory which houses their historical 1880 Alvan Clark refractor on August 17th 2024.

The observatory, built in 1966, houses their 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor, which was acquired by CAS in 1924 from Andrew Henkel, a Cincinnati businessman who owned the telescope at his Hyde Park home for years. The CAS Henkel Observatory, which it was once referred to, has seen its name obscured by time, and shall be re-dedicated as such including the revelation of a bronze plaque, celebrating the Henkel family as well as significant contributors to the observatory and telescope over the years.

Alvan Clark & Sons were the preeminent telescope makers of the 1800s, with their telescopes being sought by research institutions and well-off individuals interested in pursuing astronomy. The Clarks produced some of the finest equipment including the legendary 36-inch refractor at Lick Observatory in California and the behemoth 40-inch refractor at Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin, which is the largest refractor ever produced and is still in service today.

Owning an Alvan Clark refractor is a tremendous privilege and rare among amateur astronomy groups.

CAS will celebrate 100 years of operating this piece of history at their annual Members Summer Picnic on August 17th, which will include comments by CAS President Bryan Simpson (2017-present), members of the CAS Board, former CAS President Roland Johnson (1964 -1968) who was the leader of the observatory project in 1965, and a presentation detailing the 18-year effort to recover the stolen lens from this telescope by local astronomy historian and CAS honorary lifetime member John Ventre.

The picnic begins at 3PM, with the ceremony occurring around 6PM.

For media inquiries contact CAS President Bryan Simpson at president@cinastro.org

About CAS

The Cincinnati Astronomical Society, since 1911, has been a place for astronomy enthusiasts to gather and conduct astronomy activities, including observational astronomy, astrophotography, and citizen science. And since its founding CAS has been committed to bringing astronomy to the public through its various outreach efforts within the Cincinnati area.