Astronomical Panoramic Views from a City Observatory
Dublin Core
Title
Astronomical Panoramic Views from a City Observatory
Description
This collection is a series of panoramic photographs created by the photographer Fr. Alphonse R. Schmitt and Fr. William F. Rigge, S.J. The photographs were taken on August 22, 1913 from the Creighton University Observatory. The circles of the celestial sphere at five-degree intervals were drawn on the face of the prints. The prints were presented at the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of America meeting in Atlanta in December 1913. The prints were eventually published in Popular Astronomy in May 1914, under the title "Astronomical Panoramic Views from a City Observatory."
From the Memoirs of Fr. William F. Rigge, S.J. concerning the creation of the panoramic images: "In 1912 Mr. (now Fr.) Alphonse R. Schmitt arrived. He was a first class photographer and has produced pictures that a26 professional cannot surpass. He was willingly entered into my ideas. Towards the end of his first year, on June 8, 1913 he took a complete panoramic set from the Observatory in eight directions, towards the cardinal points and towards points halfway between them.
When the prints were made, the circles of the celestial sphere at five-degree intervals were drawn on the back, so that they could or could not be seen according as one held them up to the window or not.
We found, however, that the photographs did not have the27 vividness and distinctness that such out-door views should have. This we attributed to the east wind that was blowing at the time, for although this showed the landscape clear visually, it did not do it photographically. After his return from his vacation, Mr. Schmitt then took another series, 8 x 10 inches as before,28 on August 22, 1913,
but this time with a northwest wind. The excellence of this set leaves nothing to be desired. The circles of the celestial sphere were now drawn on the face of the prints, and 5 x 7 copies made of them. These were published in Popular Astronomy29, in May 1914, under the title “Astronomical Panoramic Views from a City Observatory.” They had been presented before the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of America at its Atlanta meeting the preceding December.
These pictures were then much enlarged and mounted in an octagon eight feet across in the physical cabinet, so that one standing at the centre could have the identical view he would have from the Observatory, with the addition of the circles of the celestial sphere, which showed how the stars moved near the horizon.
The final complete set of panoramic views, this time in twelve directions in order to secure a sufficient overlap, was taken from the top of the college tower on June 7th and 8, 1915, also by Mr. Schmitt. The perfection of these pictures could not be surpassed. Some of these views were published in the Creighton Chronicle at different times, but the entire set was never reproduced. The negatives of the three panoramic sets are kept in the vault of the Observatory, and will probably increase in value as the years roll by.
Conceived in 1878, realized in 1915! Everything comes to him that waits. Yes, if one lives long enough and works hard."
From the Memoirs of Fr. William F. Rigge, S.J. concerning the creation of the panoramic images: "In 1912 Mr. (now Fr.) Alphonse R. Schmitt arrived. He was a first class photographer and has produced pictures that a26 professional cannot surpass. He was willingly entered into my ideas. Towards the end of his first year, on June 8, 1913 he took a complete panoramic set from the Observatory in eight directions, towards the cardinal points and towards points halfway between them.
When the prints were made, the circles of the celestial sphere at five-degree intervals were drawn on the back, so that they could or could not be seen according as one held them up to the window or not.
We found, however, that the photographs did not have the27 vividness and distinctness that such out-door views should have. This we attributed to the east wind that was blowing at the time, for although this showed the landscape clear visually, it did not do it photographically. After his return from his vacation, Mr. Schmitt then took another series, 8 x 10 inches as before,28 on August 22, 1913,
but this time with a northwest wind. The excellence of this set leaves nothing to be desired. The circles of the celestial sphere were now drawn on the face of the prints, and 5 x 7 copies made of them. These were published in Popular Astronomy29, in May 1914, under the title “Astronomical Panoramic Views from a City Observatory.” They had been presented before the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of America at its Atlanta meeting the preceding December.
These pictures were then much enlarged and mounted in an octagon eight feet across in the physical cabinet, so that one standing at the centre could have the identical view he would have from the Observatory, with the addition of the circles of the celestial sphere, which showed how the stars moved near the horizon.
The final complete set of panoramic views, this time in twelve directions in order to secure a sufficient overlap, was taken from the top of the college tower on June 7th and 8, 1915, also by Mr. Schmitt. The perfection of these pictures could not be surpassed. Some of these views were published in the Creighton Chronicle at different times, but the entire set was never reproduced. The negatives of the three panoramic sets are kept in the vault of the Observatory, and will probably increase in value as the years roll by.
Conceived in 1878, realized in 1915! Everything comes to him that waits. Yes, if one lives long enough and works hard."
Date
August 22, 1913
