On a Clear Night You Can See Forever

Visit historic Chamberlin Observatory and find a three-part star-themed cache.

At the listed coordinates, you are standing in front of

CHAMBERLIN OBSERVATORY

In the late 1880s, the land around you was open prairie and farmland with no bright city lights. At night you could look up and trace the Milky Way, the gossamer river of distant stars that defines an edge-on view of our own galaxy, across a pitch-black sky. To take advantage of the clear, dark skies, real estate investor Humphrey B. Chamberlin pledged $56,000.00 to construct an observatory. Professor Herbert A. Howe, the University of Denver astronomer – only 29 years old at the time, visited many observatories during the early planning, envisioned the conceptual design of the new observatory, and prepared rough architectural drawings. Robert S. Roeschlaub, whose projects included the Central City Opera House and DU’s University Hall, was chosen as Chamberlin Observatory’s architect.

June 1888 witnessed initial groundbreaking for the new observatory – at another site! Planners decided Observatory Park was a better site and excavation began here in November 1889. Despite delays caused by delivery of inferior materials and construction glitches the glorious red sandstone walls climbed against the blue sky. The dark red stone was dug from a quarry partially owned by benefactor Humphrey Chamberlin. The building’s rounded form with its beautiful arched entrance exemplifies the Richardson Romanesque style.

Many frustrating delays plagued Professor Howe during observatory construction. Parts of the iron dome were left outside at the mercy of the weather; Professor Howe spent hours laboriously dragging them under a protective roof. Subcontractors bickered over payment. Perhaps worst of all, benefactor Humphrey Chamberlin was wiped out financially in the Panic of 1893.

But progress on the observatory continued. Builders constructed a massive two-story sandstone pier to support the telescope; its estimated weight is about 85 tons. The impressive pier can be seen in the basement of the observatory.

Alvan Clark & Sons, optics makers in Boston, finished their expert work on the 20-inch aperture lens for the telescope. In 1890, when Professor Howe first saw the glass, he found that it was beautiful, very transparent – almost perfect. The lens, cast in France, cost $11,000; today it is considered priceless.

George N. Saegmuller built the equatorial mount for the lens. Gravity powered the mount’s clock drive which kept the telescope pointed at a selected object as Earth’s rotation made stars appear to move across the sky. A set of 500 pound weights gradually descended as part of the mechanism to keep the telescope tracking the sky.

In July 1894, six years after preliminary groundbreaking, the 20-inch refracting telescope saw “first light”. Used by generations of astronomers during its first century, Chamberlin Observatory remains operational today. In March 1980, the U.S. Department of the Interior listed the observatory on the National Register of Historic Places. In August 1994, the Denver City Council voted unanimously to designate Chamberlin Observatory as a Denver Landmark. More than one hundred years after first light, the Clark-Saegmuller telescope continues to delight visitors with views of celestial wonders and introduce children to the magic and beauty of the night sky.

The Denver Astronomical Society, in cooperation with the University of Denver, presents twice-weekly Public Night programs and monthly Open Houses at Chamberlin Observatory featuring viewing through the 20-inch Clark-Saegmuller refracting telescope. Please go to http://www.denverastro.org for more information.

Calculate Waypoint #2, North 39 degrees AA.BCD and West 104 degrees EE.FFF:

AA = (number of letters in benefactor’s last name) x 4
B = number of letters in telescope lens maker’s first or last name
C = number of letters in the DU 1888 astronomy professor’s last name
D = (inches of telescope’s aperture) divided by 10
EE = (date carved into stone east of main door) minus 1833
FFF = (number, not date, on plaque east of door) minus 2

Calculation confirmation:
AA + B + C + D + EE + FFF = 326

Proceed a tiny fraction of a light-year to the

STUDENT OBSERVATORY

Excavation for the little observatory began in August 1890 and the building was substantially complete four months later. In May 1891, while construction continued on the big observatory, Professor Howe picked up keys to the student observatory and spent that thrilling first evening in the new building viewing Saturn and some double stars through a 6-inch telescope.

In recent years the student observatory has housed two computer-controlled telescopes and has been used for student projects.

The University of Denver, which owns both observatories, provides ongoing classes in astronomy and physics. Please go to http://www.du.edu/physastron/ for more information.

Sources: Denver’s Pioneer Astronomer, Herbert Alonzo Howe, by Herbert Julian Howe and Robert E. Stencel; internet sites; visits to Chamberlin Observatory

Calculate Waypoint #3, North 39 degrees GG.HHH and West 104 degrees 57.JJJ:

GG = (number of steps to main door of student observatory) x 10
HHH = (year the 20-inch telescope saw first light) minus 1326
JJJ = (year the observatory was designated a Denver landmark) minus 1794

Calculation confirmation:
GG + HHH + JJJ = 808

Walk a wee portion of a parsec to

THE CACHE

Muggle alert: the park can be very busy, so be stealthy at the cache site.
You're looking for a camouflaged cylinder about 3" by 5/8" containing a rolled up log. A wire from the upper end of the cylinder can be unwound from what it's attached to and the entire container removed.
To return the signed rolled up log to the container, first stuff it into the smaller diameter upper piece (with the outside threads)then screw the lower piece over it. You will need to bring your own writing instrument.

Additional Waypoints