Historic observatory sale

As part of a land sale to private developers that still requires the nod of the local community, Yerkes Observatory would become an education and outreach center owned by the Village of Williams Bay, Wisconsin (see Physics Today, November 2005, page 26 ). The University of Chicago announced the sale of its 109-year-old observatory on 7 June, with Don Randel, the university’s president, saying that the plan “meets all three of our goals for Yerkes. It provides a secure funding stream to preserve [the observatory] as an outreach facility, it provides resources for future research in astronomy, and it proposes a high-quality and environmentally sensitive development.”

The Mirbeau Company of Skaneateles, New York, is buying the property and will transfer the observatory and 30 acres to Williams Bay. On the remaining 48 acres, Mirbeau plans to build a retreat and about six dozen private homes. The sale proceeds of more than $8 million will be used by Chicago’s astronomy department. In addition, Mirbeau will contribute $400 000 annually to support education and outreach at Yerkes, which will be run by a not-for-profit organization.