Discover the rich legacy of astronomy at Northwestern, told through the stories of the many buildings and people on our campus over the years.
In a Nutshell: Northwestern’s Astronomy Journey
Scroll through for historic astronomy moments from Northwestern’s past, over the last couple centuries.
Northwestern acquires the Dearborn telescope. Originally, the telescope had belonged to the Old University of Chicago, but after its bankruptcy, the Chicago Astronomical Society struck a contract with Northwestern to transfer it to the university in Evanston.
The American Astronomical Society (including Edwin Hubble) holds its annual gathering on campus in Dearborn. Supposedly, this is the meeting that inspired Hubble’s ideas on the ongoing expansion of the universe. This is also where the AAS decided on this name.
Under observatory director Oliver J. Lee’s leadership, the Dearborn Observatory is lifted three feet and rolled 600 feet southeast to its current location on campus for the construction of the Tech Institute. This required the work of engineers, laborers, tractors, and also horses and jacks.
Astronomer J. Allen Hynek (left) becomes chair of the astronomy department and director of Dearborn Observatory. For nearly 20 years he worked at Northwestern, where he devised ambitious astronomy experiments, oversaw two additional NU observatories during the Space Age, and also became one of the world’s preeminent voices on UFOs.
Northwestern’s Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center is officially dedicated. This research center marked the lakefill’s inaugural construction before its demolition in 1995. It housed two telescopes and was intended to serve as a research hub for astronomers and students alike.
The Corralitos Observatory, the third observatory owned by Northwestern during the Space Age period, becomes the only observatory to capture a photo of the moment Apollo 13 exploded. This observatory, located in New Mexico, supported a variety of Northwestern’s astronomy research, including aiding NASA programs, tracking supernovae, and conducting lunar surveillance.
The Department of Astronomy and the Department of Physics officially merge, forming the present-day Department of Physics and Astronomy. This happens at a time when the astronomy program at Northwestern is undergoing many changes, including the eventual departures of J. Allen Hynek and astronomer Karl Henize.
Professor Melville Ulmer secures a major grant for Northwestern for his work on NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), which was the second of NASA’s four Great Observatories, following the Hubble Space Telescope.
Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center is demolished, after years of disrepair and mounting expenses. Initial attempts to bring down the building were unsuccessful due to its stellar structure. It became Northwestern’s own Leaning Tower. A couple years later, Dearborn Observatory is renovated and gets a new dome.
The Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) is founded by Professors Vicky Kalogera and Fred Rasio, and Director of the Dearborn Observatory and Chair of Physics and Astronomy at the time, Professor Dave Meyer. CIERA has now grown to have over 150 members, all of whom specialize in a variety of disciplines and astronomy fields. In addition to its own members at Northwestern, CIERA brings in visiting researchers from institutions all over the world. Pictured are CIERA members in 2012.
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration — including CIERA researchers — made history with the first-ever detection of gravitational waves, capturing the signal from a dramatic collision between two black holes. This groundbreaking discovery confirmed a major prediction of Einstein’s theory of general relativity and opened a new era of astrophysics.
CIERA gains institutional access to two of the world’s premier observatories — the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) in Arizona and the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii — through formal contracts. This access empowers CIERA’s observational astronomers to pursue cutting-edge research, bridging theoretical models with high-quality observational data and opening new frontiers in astrophysics.
Northwestern joins the Giant Magellan Telescope’s International Consortium as a founding partner, bringing their expertise in astrophysics, artificial intelligence (AI), and engineering. The partnership will empower Northwestern researchers to use AI to find Earth-like planets, investigate cosmic explosions, and uncover how galaxies and black holes evolve together.
To mark CIERA’s 15th anniversary, alumni and current members convened for a two-day celebration featuring inspiring science talks, engaging discussions, and renewed opportunities for collaboration and connection.
Northwestern’s astronomy program is now among the top 10 best programs in the country. CIERA continually achieves multitudes of press-worthy discoveries each year and brings science to the public, regardless of ages or backgrounds.
Since the late 19th century, Northwestern’s astronomical legacy has been rich with milestones and momentum shifts. From a Civil War-era telescope and twin domes on a brand-new lakefill, to the faculty and students who dove headfirst into the Space Race or helped make the historic first detection of gravitational waves —
Here’s to astronomy, which has flourished since Northwestern University’s adolescence and especially now.
For the full story of astronomy at Northwestern, begin the journey with the fascinating Dearborn Telescope and Observatory.