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Observatory Hill road with , detailed view of edging
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
New 1950s Wing
Front view of new addition on 1950s wing.
Mirror, finished surface in John Brashear's Pittsburgh optical shop, different view
A picture of the more or less completed mirror in Brashear's workshop
Mirror, finished surface in John Brashear's Pittsburgh optical shop
A picture of the more or less completed mirror in Brashear's workshop
Mirror tooling in John Brashear's Pittsburgh optical shop
A good picture of Brashear's workshop with apparatus and tools
Mirror finished, wall calendar in background in John Brashear's Pittsburgh optical shop
A picture of the figured mirror in Brashear's workshop. The calendar shows the month as November, 1915. We don't know if this is the month the image was taken.
Mirror cover inside telescope's tube at Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A great picture looking down the tube of the telescope at the mirror cover. The cover was very important for protecting the mirror from the elements and from anything being accidently dropped onto it.
Mirror blank with John Brashear in his Pittsburgh optical shop
A picture of the mirror blank in John Brashear's workshop before work started on figuring and polishing it to the correct shape. The mirror blank was shipped from Belgium just a few days before the start of WW I. John A. Brashear is resting his arm…
Mirror blank at John Brashear's optical shop in Pittsburgh, part of shop visible
A picture of the mirror blank in John Brashear's workshop before work started on figuring and polishing it to the correct shape. The mirror blank was shipped from Belgium just a few days before the start of WW I.
Mirror blank at John Brashear's optical shop in Pittsburgh,
A picture of the mirror blank in John Brashear's workshop before work started on figuring and polishing it to the correct shape. The mirror blank was shipped from Belgium just a few days before the start of WW I.
Mirror blank set up on grinding table, with John Brashear in his Pittsburgh optical shop
A picure of the mirror blank set up on the grinding table in Brashear's Pittsburgh workshop. Brashear appears ready for work, wearing his apron and a peaked cap.
Mirror being ground in John Brashear's Pittsburgh optical shop
A picture of the partially figured mirror on the grinding stand. The surface is much smoother than that of the raw mirror blank
Member of the RASC and others gathered in front of the finished (except the mirror) telescope
A picture taken October 21, 1916 of members of the Victoria chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). J.S. Plaskett invited the group to the observatory to see the completed telescope, minus the mirror, and marvel at its majesty.…
Man standing beside DAO site marker stake
A picture taken at the top of Observatory Hill before the site preparation had begun
Man standing below DAO site marker stake
A picture taken at the top of Observatory Hill before the site preparation had begun
Man sitting by untouched DAO site
A picture taken at the top of Observatory Hill before the site preparation had begun
Library inside original office building
A picture of the library in the original office building. One of the two large oak tables in this picture is still in use.
Large Gears with engineer, outside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of an engineer with some of the gears used in the telescope.
Large Gear with engineer inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of the large right ascension gear with one of the enginneers.
J.S. Plaskett standing beside assembled telescope inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of the assembled telescope inside the Warner & Swasey factory with J.S. Plaskett standing beside it.
Interior of Director's House, furnished
A picture of the interior of the Director's House furnished.
Installing Primary mirror
In this picture, the mirror in its case is just below the telescope tube prior to being raised and attached to the telescope tube.
Installing primary mirror
A picture of the mirror about to be lowered into the mirror case prior to be attached to the back of the telescope tube. J.S. Plaskett is standing on the mirror handling cart and a worker is visible in the background. His hat is hanging on somthing…
Installing Primary mirro
In this picture, the mirror in its case is just below the telescope tube prior to being raised and attached to the telescope tube. Visible in the background are the two clocks used by observers.
Horse team hauling telescope parts top of Observatory Hil road
A picture of a team of horses hauling telescope parts in front of the site custodian house at top of Observatory Hill road
Horse team hauling telescope parts past water tower at site
A picture of a team of horses hauling telescope parts to the top of the hill. They are at the top of Observatory Hill in front of the water tower
Handling Cart for primary mirror at Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of the handling cart for the mirror of the telescope. The mirror was coated wit silver than had to be replaced every few months when it tarnished. The mirror was lowered into this cart so it could be easily moved.
Group photograph taken on the occasion of the official opening
A picture taken on the occasion of the official opening of the observatory in June, 1918. Left to right are Ambrose Swasey, William Wallace Campbell, Director of the Lick Observatory, John Stanley Plaskett, and Ambrose Swasey.
Group photograph taken on the occasion of the official opening
A picture taken on the occasion of the official opening of the observatory in June, 1918. Left to right are William Wallace Campbell, Director of the Lick Observatory, Campbell's wife, Elizabeth, John Alfred Brashear, Reba, Plaskett's wife, John…
Group photograph taken on the occasion of the official opening
A picture taken on the occasion of the official opening of the observatory in June, 1918. Standing, left to right are William Wallace Campbell, Director of the Lick Observatory, Campbell's wife, Elizabeth, John Stanley Plaskett, Plaskett's wife,…
Group photo of Dome assembly work crew in Victoria
A group image of the dome assembly crew. Note that the two engineers, one holding the blueprints, are clean compared to the workers. This picture was taken inside the dome.
Group photo men and women with J.S. Plaskett
A picture of a group of men and woman on a sunny day on Observatory Hill. J.S. Plaskett is included in the photograph
Greg Fahlman (in red) and Gordon Walker at DAO Christmas party at Moon Under Water pub.
Greg Fahlman (in red) and Gordon Walker at DAO Christmas party at Moon Under Water pub.
Gravity Drive at Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of the original clock drive for the telescope. At the time the telescope built, the best way to move the telescope to accurately track the stars, was to drive the telescope by a mechanism that was powered by a falling weight. Very smooth!…
Gears, counterweights and wheels inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of various equipment, gears, wheels in side the Warner & Swasey factory
Gears on table at Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture of the right ascension gear of the telescope. This gear drives the telescope around the axis of the telescope pointing north.
Gears and Counterweights inside Warner & Swasey shop, Cleveland
A picture various parts inside one of the large parts of the telescope.
Front of 1950s Wing.
Completed pavement in front of 1950s wing.
Floor plans for 1950s wing
Architectural floor plans of first floor of 1950s wing.
Floor plans for 1950s wing
Architectural floor plans of second floor of 1950s wing.
Floor plans for 1950s wing
Architectural floor plans of the entire 1950s wing.
Floor plans for 1950s wing
Architectural floor plans of basement floor of 1950s wing.
Floor plans for 1950s wing
Architectural floor plans of sub-basement floor of 1950s wing.
Finished telescope pointing south
A picture of the completed telescope pointed south. The spectrograph is attached to the telescope. The mirror handling cart is visible as well.
Finished telescope pointing north
The finished telescope pointing north. Note that the spectrograph is not attached to the back of the telescope. Visible in the background are the two clocks used by observers. One kept normal time, the other sidereal time. A calendar between the two…
Finished telescope pointing east
A picture of the completed telescope pointed east. The spectrograph is attached to the telescope. The mirror handling cart is visible as are the two clocks, one for standard time and one for sidereal time.
Family sitting on DAO site with small telescope set up
A picture of a family with a small refractor telescope on a tripod. The views from Observatory Hill attracted people
Excavation of 1950s wing
Excavation for the 1950s wing.
Excavation of 1950s wing
Excavation for the 1950s wing.
Excavation of 1950s wing
Excavation for the 1950s wing.