"The mission of The Cincinnati Observatory Center is to preserve the integrity and traditions of a historic nineteenth century bservatory, to maintain the structure and setting of the Observatory, to house a collection of artifacts illustrating the history of the science and applications of astronomy and to serve as an educational resource in the field of astronomy for professional and amateur astronomers, schools and universities and the public at large."--Juan C. Santamarina (President, Board of Trustees)

PUBLIC HISTORY:
The intern will work with the Observatory historian and Observatory Director in many aspects of the Observatory's operations including archival work (with the Observatory Historian), assisting in grant applications and ongoing fundraising activities, scheduling programs, and
miscellaneous other administrative duties.

Number and Times/Dates of Hours Flexible.  Stipend, $250.

THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE OBSERVATORY HISTORIC DISTRICT IN MT. LOOKOUT (CINCINNATI, OHIO):  3489 Observatory Place  Cincinnati, Ohio  45208  (513) 321 - 5186

About the Observatory:
(For more information about the Observatory please follow this link to the Observatory's homepage.)

The Cincinnati Observatory, the nation's first professional observatory, was founded by Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel in 1842.  Former President John Quincy Adams laid the observatory's cornerstone in the original building on Mt. Ida, which was renamed Mt. Adams in honor of his visit.  When the observatory relocated to Mt. Lookout in 1873  to escape the increasing city smog, the original  cornerstone was embedded in the new observatory building, and the building and grounds were deeded to the University of Cincinnati.

From its inception the Observatory has conducted public viewings (Astronomy Nights) and other educational endeavors.  The Observatory houses the world's oldest professional telescope still in public use - a Merz and Mahler - purchased in Germany in 1842.  A second telescope, an Alvan Clark and Sons, (1904), is also still in use, and is an example of one of the finest early American instruments.

Scientific work done by astronomers at the Cincinnati Observatory over the past 158 years was as much responsible for its designation as a National Historic Landmark as was the classical architecture of its Samuel Hannaford building.  The Cincinnati Observatory has played a fundamental role in American Astronomy.  By the end of its first year of operation Mitchel had made many discoveries including a feature on Mars now called the Mountains of Mitchel.  He also established the nation's first astronomical journal, Sidereal Messenger.  It was in Cincinnati that standard time was first introduced in this country, and Cincinnati was the first observatory to coordinate daily weather bulletins, leading the way to the establishment of the National Weather Bureau.  Technology developed at the Observatory helped track German submarines during World War II, and orbital calculations from Cincinnati  were used by NASA to plan John Glenn¹s first orbit around the earth.  In 1947 Cincinnati Observatory was established as the world's Minor Planet Center, a position it held until 1978.

David H. Levy of comet Schoemaker-Levy fame, has written that "the Cincinnati Observatory is one of the most  beautiful buildings I have ever seen, the structures and their instruments are historic treasures for the astronomers who run them as well as for the ...residents of this city."

In order to preserve the Observatory as a viable community asset the University of Cincinnati envisioned its continued operation being linked to a non-profit community organization.  Neighbors and Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) formed a planning committee with the University in 1997 to develop a new vision for future use of the buildings.  The result was the establishment of The Cincinnati Observatory Center, a not-for-profit organization, made up of a broad-based, public/private partnership of many entities.  It includes astronomers, educators, preservationists, neighbors and other interested parties.  This broad coalition focuses on Historic Restoration, Preservation and Education.

Future plans call for the 1873 building to be used as a small  museum of American Astronomy.  It will maintain a collection of astronomical artifacts of historic interest, including those currently in the possession of the Observatory, as well as artifacts and instruments gathered from other observatories around the country .  The O.M. Mitchel building will be used for education and public programming.