As the result of a drastically revised curriculum, as well as prominence gained through world leadership in solar research, the Department of Astronomy has more than doubled its student enrollment this Fall.
Creation of a new four-hour introductory course open to Freshmen and Sophomores has started this big enrollment rise and, coupled with the national publicity aroused by new and interesting discoveries at the McMath-Hulbert Observatory at Lake Angelus, both undergraduates and graduates have been drawn to the Department. The present student enrollment is greater than ever before in history.
As early as 1817 when the University was chartered, astronomy was recognized as one of the primarily important courses by Judge Augustus Woodward when he included it in the "Catholepistemiad of Michigania." Woodward's wishes, however, were not fulfilled till 1852 when President Tappan, in his inaugural address, called for "Astronomy with the use of an Observatory."
Following the inaugural ceremonies, Henry X. Walker, of Detroit, asked the new president what he could do to help the University. Tappan suggested that he raise money in Detroit for an observatory. Walker followed this suggestion to the letter by soon raising $15,000 (including $4,000 of his own) and the Regents contributed the rest of the necessary $22,000 for a building and instruments out of the University fund. When completed the building was named the Detroit Observatory.
After President Tappan's hopes were fulfilled by the completion of the observatory, he ordered the telescope from New York, and traveled through Germany and bought the other instruments.
Perhaps most important though, he brought Francis Brunnow back with him to serve as the first Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Observatory. Brunnow had been the assistant of the famed J. F. Encke, Director of the Royal Observatory in Berlin, and was a fortunate choice for the University, as he contributed much to the early reputation of the Detroit Observatory, and trained one of Michigan's most outstanding graduates, James Craig Watson, '57, A.M.'59. President Tappan's own interest in Brunnow was increased when his only daughter married the astronomer, and the President became in his words, "thus wedded to the Observatory."
Following Tappan's resignation in 1863, Brunnow resigned and was succeeded by his former student, James Craig Watson. Watson, too, brought fame to the Observatory and was a member of most of the important Government astronomy expeditions at this time. By his brilliant discoveries, including 23 new asteroids, he gave the Observatory a reputation which be came part of the annals of astronomy.
Several more brilliant men who followed as Chairmen of the Department of Astronomy and Directors of the Observatory were: Mark W. Harrington, '68, A.M. 71, LL.D.'94, Asaph Hall, Jr., William J. Hussey, B.S.C.E. '89, Ralph H. Curtiss, and Heber D. Curtis, '92, A.M.'93, and Acting Directors Allan D. Maxwell and W. C. Rufus, Ph.D.'15.
In 1946, Dr. Leo Goldberg, who had been associated with the Lake Angelus work since 1941, was named Chairman of the Department and Director of the Observatory. Under his direction many notable changes have occurred in the Department, including the elimination of superfluous courses, and the addition of several important new ones. Most notable addition to the curriculum has been the introductory course for Freshmen and Sophomores, and the addition of a second new course which serves as a link between the elementary and the advanced undergraduate courses. There are also plans for a new course on the elements of theoretical astrophysics and an advanced astrophysics course.
Notable in the Department of Astronomy's research work has been the continued emphasis on the McMath-Hulbert Observatory at Lake Angelus. This observatory was given to the University in 1931 by the late Francis C. McMath, (Hon.'31), Robert R. McMath, B.C.E.'13, A.M. (Hon.)'33, (father and son), and Judge Henry S. Hulbert, LL.M. (Hon.)'14, of Detroit. Subsequently, with McGregor Fund, of Detroit, support, the observatory has expanded tremendously and under Robert McMath's direction it has become one of the world centers of solar research.
The staff at Lake Angelus was the first to apply the wartime lead sulphide cell to obtain a high-resolution record of the solar spectrum out to 20,000 angstroms (one angstrom equals 1/1,000,000,000 of a centimeter) in the infrared. The previous photographic limit was about 13,500 A. The facilities there have also been broadened to play a vital role in the advanced teaching program, and each member of the research staff at Lake Angelus teaches a graduate course. This offers an exceptional medium for advanced study and has drawn students from all over the country.
One of the most important projects at present is one, which the Department recently contracted with the Office of Naval Research, calling for basic astrophysical research by members of the staff at Ann Arbor and Lake Angelus. The long-range aim of this project is to develop new methods of analysis, which will facilitate the interpretation of the ultraviolet solar spectra now being obtained by the Navy from V-2 rockets.
The Department of Astronomy's work is also going forward at the Lamont-Hussey Observatory in Bloemfontein, South Africa. This Observatory was given to the University in 1923 by Robert P. Lament, '91e, A.M. (Hon.)'12. The work there is now being carried out by Associate Professor Richard A. Rossiter, A.M. '20, Ph.D.'23. With the aid of the 27J4-inch refracting telescope, which was installed there in 1927, Dr. Rossiter has discovered over 7,000 new double stars.
Future plans for the Department include a continued and even greater emphasis on undergraduate work. Dr. Goldberg plans to revamp the curriculum and modernize it still more, with the hope of drawing more concentrates to the Department and also to interest the general student in astronomy courses. In addition there will be continued emphasis on the really spectacular research work now in progress at Lake Angelus, with plans calling for a broad program of astrophysical research centered at the McMath-Hulbert Observatory. There are also plans in the making for the erection of an observatory at Stinchfield Woods, University land approximately fifteen miles from Ann Arbor. These plans include installation of a Schmidt-type reflector, which is the most modern type reflector and permits photographing over a wide field of the sky.
Back in 1852, President Tappan probably little dreamed what lay in store for the University when he called for his "Astronomy with the use of an Observatory."
Michigan Alumnus
Nov 29 1947, page 161
