[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E869]]

         THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY: NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 1998

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Cincinnati 
Observatory in Cincinnati, Ohio, which recently received the National 
Park Service's designation as a National Historic Landmark.
  The Cincinnati Observatory is a nationally significant historical 
site for its association with individuals, institutions and events 
related to astronomy. Its two structures, now on 11 acres, were 
designed by nationally recognized master architect Samuel Hannaford and 
built in 1873 and 1904.
  The Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest functioning observatory in 
the United States. The original telescope was the largest in the U.S. 
and the second largest in the world at the time. The observatory was 
associated with the careers of such famous American astronomers as 
Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel (1809-1862), who published Sidereal Messenger, 
the first attempt to bring astronomy to the public and Cleveland Abbe 
(1838-1916), a meteorologist who instituted daily weather bulletins in 
1869. Abbe's work became popular with the public and led directly to 
the creation of the federal agency National Weather Bureau in 1870.
  Paul Hergert (1908-1981) the world's foremost authority on the 
commodation of planetary orbits, served as director of the Observatory 
from 1946-1978. Under his leadership, the observatory became the 
original location of the Minor Planet Center, which was founded in 1947 
by the International Astronomical Union. For the work he initiated at 
the Observatory, Herget was elected to the National Academy of Science 
in 1962.
  The Cincinnati Observatory embodies the rich history of American 
astronomy. It has gained international prominence for its landmark work 
in field of proper motions, gravitational studies and sidereal 
astronomy, including double stars, nebulae and clusters. Today, it 
serves as a vibrant public resource on the history and practice of 
astronomy.
  All of us in Greater Cincinnati congratulate the Cincinnati 
Observatory, the Cincinnati Planning Association and the Observatory 
Planning Committee for their hard work and dedication to preserve this 
window to the past and inspiration for the future.

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