The David Dunlap Observatory

THE DAVID DUNLAP OBSERVATORY R. K. YOUNG T HE David Dunlap Observatory, the gift of Mrs. Jessie Donalda Dunlap to the University of Toronto as a memorial to her husband, will be formally opened on May 3I , 1935- It is very fitting that the Observatory should be opened on this date, which is the seventieth birthday of the Director, for Dr. Chant has spent the greater part of his life in fostering astronomy within " the University and in encouraging its study throughout Canada. The buildings and the mounting for " the large telescope have been practically complete for some time, but there lacked the large mirror, the "eye" of the instrument. This is now reported finished, and the writer " is about to leave for England to make the final tests on it. The purpose of this article is to- tell briefly the story of this magnificent gift and to say something of the research which will be carried on by the new observatory. ASTRONOMY IN THE UNIVERSITY The progress "of astronomy as a department of the University is due to the continued efforts of "Dr. C. A. Chant to emphasize its importance as a cultural subject in education and as a training for the advanced student. I t was a part of his plan, even from a very early date, that the University should have an observatory and contribute to the knowledge of the subject, but it "was hardly expected that the money for its erection would be obtained from the provincial grant to the University. In an insti327 THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO QUAR~ERLY tution striving to meet the needs of the province and expanding rapidly, chief emphasis in the field of science was likely to be placed on subjects more immediately utilitarian. Not until these had been taken care of would the claims of a pure science like astronomy be considered. The interest in the subject in recent years has been much increased by the spectacular discoveries which have greatly extended our knowledge of the universe and which have appealed to the imagination. Astronomy owes much also to the great body of amateurs whose interest in the subject has strengthened the desire that an efficient tel~scope might be situated within the province. The late David Alexander Dunlap was one. of these. Be was a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and attended the meetings of the Toronto centre. Dr. Chant in all his lectures before the society and throughout the country has emphasized the observational side of astronomy and the n~ed of an observatory . If those who give instruction in astronomy are to possess that inspirational touch which comes only from an intimate knowledge of the subject, they must either be actively engaged in astronolnical research, and thus be extending the frontiers of the science, or must be thoroughly informed regarding the work carried on in the observatories of the world. Lacking the equipment for the former, Dr. Chant followed the latter course; but he constantJy emphasized the need of a first-class observatory . It was his hope that aid in this project would be received from Mr. Dunlap, but the latter's death in 192.4 prevented this. When, some time later, Professor Chant suggested to ]\;11's. Dunlap that she should provide the observatory as a memorial to her husband, the suggestion met with a sympathetic response. Indeed, Mrs. Dunlap shared her husband's interest in astronomy. 328 THE DAVID DUNLAP OBSERVATORY GENERAL PLANS AND LOCATION In 1927 Mrs. Dunlap expressed her willingness to provide the observatory, but it was not until June of 192.8 that we were in a position to caJl for the construction of the· various instruments which would· be installed. The original plan, which has been closely adhered to, contempIated two buildings: one, a steel structure to house a large telescope; the other, an administration building for office work and the reduction of the observations. There was·no haste about the construction of thelatter building since it offered no particular difficulties, but the main telescope was ordered as soon as possible because the time required for its construction was somewhat uncertain, this being especially true of the large...