A Glimpse Through Time and Space
A view of the Chamberlin Observatory’s refracting telescope from the top of the scaffolding, looking down.
Photos courtesy of Olivia Nippe-Jeakins
The morning was crisp and bright as about 15 of us chatted on the small tour bus. We were still a bit drowsy, the exhaustion from the previous day’s travels not quite lifted, but an undercurrent of excitement kept us awake. This was the first official day of SPSCon, and we were starting with a bang: a tour of the Chamberlin Observatory, a 19th-century facility maintained by the University of Denver (DU). It’s home to a massive 20-inch refracting telescope, one of few still operational in the US.
Upon first glance, the observatory didn’t appear extraodinary. It’s not particularly tall or imposing. But entering like stepping back in time, as though we were walking into an old schoolhouse. Research posters plastered the walls, interspersed with black-and-white portraits of important-looking historical figures. The school-like atmosphere soon made sense, as we realized we actually were standing in a classroom—albeit a classroom unlike any other I’ve seen. The room wrapped around a massive, central column, the chairs arranged so that both sides of the room could see a whiteboard and screen. We took our seats.
Denver University professor Jennifer Hoffman, director of the observatory, gave us a warm welcome and walked us through the history of the observatory. It was absolutely fascinating to hear about construction during the era of horse-drawn carriages.
Upstairs, the sight of the telescope left us speechless. It is 26 feet long and sits atop a column that stretches all the way down to the bedrock below. Dr. Hoffman walked to a thick rope dangling from the ceiling and gave it a tug. To our amazement, she was manually opening a slice of the dome. The ceiling above us slowly rotated out of the telescope’s way, and Dr. Hoffman adjusted the telescope’s orientation, gently swinging it down so we could examine it more closely. It was far too bright for observation, but climbing the scaffolding and peering through the lens was an unforgettable experience.
Ultimately, this tour underscored the importance of understanding and honoring the contributions of those who came before us, allowing their achievements to inspire and propel the work we do today. We owe a tremendous debt to the early pioneers whose curiosity and persistence laid the foundation for our understanding of the world.
