Hector J. Robinson Observatory

HJ Robinson, founder of the Observatory

In 1961, after Hector Robinson's science classes had built several small telescopes, the idea arose to construct a much larger instrument - which, when completed, would prove to be among the largest available to pre-college students anywhere.

Word of the project spread, eventually garnering enough donations from students, teachers, and many others to purchase two 12.5-inch-diameter (320 mm) pieces of Pyrex glass (the mirror blank and the tool), each 2+1⁄8 inches (54 mm) thick and weighing 28 pounds (13 kg).

Crews of students worked to grind the mirror with various grades of carborundum, testing and polishing it to achieve the right parabolic curve for a functional mirror. After being coated with reflective aluminum, the mirror was finished.

With the addition of a cradle and equatorial mount, the telescope was complete. In 1964, the Board of Education authorized the construction of a building, allowing the instrument to be properly housed. Before this, the telescope was stored on end in Robinson's science classroom, and on clear evenings, it was carried outside and mounted on a stand.

The footings for the observatory were poured in early 1964. A cement block cylindrical wall, 14 feet (4.3 m) in diameter and 8 feet (2.4 m) high with a central piling was erected. The structure was then topped off with a rotating metal dome and retractable shutter.

After Robinson's retirement in 1966, interest in the operation waned. In 1970, after several years of infrequent use, students and several educators decided to renovate the observatory. In 1971, a students' club formed to use the observatory to further their knowledge of astronomy. New eyepieces and other necessary equipment was gathered in the four years following the formation of the Astronomy Club. The telescope has seen frequent use since the formation of the club.

In the summer of 1975, the telescope mirror was improved to one-tenth wavelength by a process of re-figuring and re-aluminumizing. In the fall of 1975, the Astronomy Club was gifted a 35mm SLR camera and began to experiment with Astrophotography, using the moon and Jupiter as the first "subjects".

The intended use and expansion of the observatory was laid out in 1975: "Augmenting the existing eyepieces with new ones is planned, as well as obtaining more photographic equipment. Further improvements in the telescope mounting and the acquisition of a clock-drive system will help to realize the full, tremendous potential of the telescope. Expansion of the Club membership is also planned, as well as the possibility of fabricating new telescopes."[2]

"The Hector J. Robinson Observatory is truly an invaluable asset to the school system and community, and the telescope it houses is one of the finest to be found. The foresight and diligence of Hector Robinson and his students of 1961–64 has produced a history and a future filled with the pleasures of accomplishment and the thrill of discovery, which are immense beyond measure."[3]

At that time, the observatory had a plaque inscribed with a date of 1965, which was the construction date, and a re-dedication with 1975 listed on it; however, the Lincoln Park School Board did not rename the observatory for Robinson until 1975. A dedication name resolution reprint is found in the dedication flyer. A description of the telescope and how it works was also in the program. The dedication program was written by Ron Greenough.

From 1974-1977, astronomy club members built three telescopes to learn about telescope building. This resulted in the creation of a rich field instrument to augment the narrow field of view of the main 12.5-inch (320 mm) telescope mounted inside the observatory. The club sponsor at that time was Bruce Coultas, an 8th grade principal at Huff Jr. High in Lincoln Park, Michigan.

Coultas purchased the necessary parts to construct his own 10-inch (250 mm) Newtonian F5 reflector. Optical expert and Detroit Astronomical Society member Mike Manyak, of Wyandotte Michigan, became a sponsor and curator for the observatory. With Manyak's help, the club members were able to produce three telescopes. The club performed the most work on their own 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian, which was the second scope to be built at that time. Both the 10-inch (250 mm) and 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian reflectors were F5 in focal length and used simple pipe mounts. The main mirrors were both ground by the club using mirror kits. Actual final figuring of the parabolic curves was performed by Manyak, as the mirrors had a Turned Down Edge problem. TDE (turned down edge) is a problem that plagues mirror builders of all skill levels, particularly beginners.

The first and second telescopes built during the 1977 time period had fiberglass tubes, which the club fiber glassed and sanded, then painted powder blue. The third small telescope had a simple painted cardboard tube and was very lightweight.

The third telescope was a small 4+1⁄4-inch (110 mm) F4 reflector, which was the student president's personal telescope. This optically patterned after an Edmund Astroscan 2000 sold at the time. This last mirror was primarily ground and polished by the student president, but Manyak did the final finishing and testing using a Foucault tester in Wyandotte Michigan.

The 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian was housed in the observatory with the main 12+1⁄2-inch (320 mm) telescope in 1977 when it was built. An article in the local Mellus Newspaper shows some of the club members "polishing" the mirror for the 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian. At that time, the club had the most members on record, with 35 members at its peak. However, approximately a third of the members were actually active in the club.

The club remained active for only a few more years. Huff Jr. High school was eventually torn down. A flat field existed there for some years, before a middle school was built again. The observatory and football field remained next to the old Huff School site, still adjacent to Lincoln Park High school.

Mike Manyak was the curator and still opened up the observatory for a time. According to a nearby neighbor, the observatory stayed in use until the early 1980s. Manyak was involved with astronomy until he died in 1998.

The observatory went into a dormant period after 1982. Bruce Coultas died, and without a middle school club, there was little interest in the observatory. During the 1970s, those in high school were, for the most part, not interested in the observatory or club, and viewed it as a "Jr. High" club or interest. The observatory was ultimately closed at an unknown date preceding the renovation. Physical work in restoring the observatory began in late 2008.

Both telescopes sat in the observatory unused for years up until 2008. In 2001 Dr. Timothy Dey learned about the observatory and first surveyed the site. As an amateur astronomer in Lincoln Park, Dey sought out a means to reactivate the observatory and bring it back into use. Dey worked with Leo Macmaster, an 8th grade science teacher, to apply for funding grants to revitalize the observatory. They successfully won a grant from Toshiba Incorporated. The grant, initially larger, was reduced from its initial award due to the economic downturn of 2008. The observatory was found to still house the original telescope and the 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian reflector, but over the years, many starlings had nested in the observatory and many bird droppings coated the mirrors of both instruments. The observatory had to be repaired and the older instruments removed. Parts of the original scaffolding used to climb up and view through the old 12-inch (300 mm) Newtonian were used as a part of a raised floor. Viewers no longer have to climb a large wooden scaffold to peer through an eyepiece 9 feet (2.7 m) off the floor. The SCT telescope has an eyepiece at the back of the telescope.

The reflective surface of the 12-inch (300 mm) was missing aluminum finish. The 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian had the same problems, with the acid from the bird droppings etching the previously fine surface of both mirrors. The Ford Amateur Astronomy Club (located in Dearborn Michigan) helped lead the way with their Astronomical expertise. Joseph Griggs construction company, led by Lions Club member J. R. Griggs helped much in building restoration and construction of a new raised floor, wiring, cleanup and painting. Joseph Griggs was a member of Hector J Robinson's class back in the 1960s and actually worked on the mirror with many other students when the first telescope was being built. So old students were returning and volunteering to help restore the new observatory. There was even help from the mayor of Lincoln Park who helped find resources to help us get a cement path to the observatory.

Since 2009, the new main telescope has been operational and the old telescope has been removed. The 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian built in 1977 was initially scrapped, but was salvaged from a scrapyard by a former member of the astronomy club. It's unclear what will happen with the salvaged telescope.

The new main telescope mounted in the observatory is a Celestron C-14. It has computer control, go to, and tracking capability as well as astrophotography capability. The observatory is planned have a Wi-Fi hookup along with numerous other upgrades. One desired upgrade would allow the observatory to be linked into a remote control network, allowing children from other schools to observe through it over the internet. A network of schools uses this type of internet link to share telescopes and allow day viewing using telescopes linked in on the other side of the world, in a nighttime environment.

Past

• 12.5-inch (320 mm) telescope (1964) - retired, to be put into the museum.
• 8-inch (200 mm) Newtonian reflector (1977) - removed, may be repaired, but not currently in use.

Current

• 14-inch (360 mm) Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (2009) - installed, to be in use September 2009.
• Lunt 35mm Solar scope (a special scope to view the sun) - mounted on C-14
• 80mm F7 Meade APO Refractor - mounted on C-14

• List of astronomical observatories

• Observatory blog
• Ford Amateur Astronomy Club
• Dey Group Link on Observatory Project