{"id":2426,"date":"2024-10-31T15:58:49","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T19:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/?p=2426"},"modified":"2024-10-31T15:58:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T19:58:52","slug":"george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago-2426","title":{"rendered":"George Ellery Hale \u2013 The Inventor of the Solar Telescope from Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>George Ellery Hale was a distinguished scientist from Chicago whose inventions enabled humanity to study planets and celestial bodies more closely. His contributions to the fields of science and astronomy are immeasurable, as reported by \u00ab<a href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/uk\/\">chicago1.one<\/a>\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a314b69a4001\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a314b69a4001\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago-2426\/#Early_Years\" >Early Years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago-2426\/#The_Most_Treasured_%E2%80%9CToy%E2%80%9D_in_Young_Hales_Collection\" >The Most Treasured &#8220;Toy&#8221; in Young Hale\u2019s Collection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago-2426\/#Invention_of_the_Spectroheliograph\" >Invention of the Spectroheliograph<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago-2426\/#Establishment_of_Kenwood_Observatory\" >Establishment of Kenwood Observatory<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/george-ellery-hale-the-inventor-of-the-solar-telescope-from-chicago-2426\/#George_Hales_Contributions_to_Astronomy\" >George Hale\u2019s Contributions to Astronomy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_Years\"><\/span>Early Years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/05\/jsnmtsmh8hgy0ptdvuvb2kzvda25n9ncnk-agb5eguia9rbnb2awgvsdt32pv-6ft0-fdkbwspdlwpv3dxxwbt08lf-hhgmxkfpsjqlw8nsrpmcd2grt9sv40qfp6q03dwjrv8i5f4ju3j_h-xcyzcw.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The future scientist was born in Chicago on June 29, 1868. As an active and inquisitive child, George\u2019s curiosity was supported by his father, who helped him explore the world around him and encouraged his interest in various tools and instruments. His mother also played a vital role in his development, inspiring a love for poetry and literature that nurtured his appreciation for reading and storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young George also enjoyed typical childhood pastimes such as biking, swimming, fishing, and skating. Later, his father gifted him a metalworking lathe for Christmas, and his playroom soon housed an array of tools, including a spiral saw. This interest in machinery and tools would follow him throughout his life. However, the most prized item in his collection was a small microscope that he used to examine water samples and explore the hidden world of microorganisms. This early fascination with the sciences eventually led him to astronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Most_Treasured_%E2%80%9CToy%E2%80%9D_in_Young_Hales_Collection\"><\/span>The Most Treasured &#8220;Toy&#8221; in Young Hale\u2019s Collection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>George constructed his first telescope at home, though its lens was too simple for observing complex images. Observing his son\u2019s growing passion, George\u2019s father installed a professional-grade telescope on the roof of their house. Fourteen-year-old George was captivated by views of the moon and planets and started sketching sunspots and solar eclipses. This telescope marked the beginning of his scientific journey and his future discoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After completing his studies at Oakland Public School, George enrolled in Allen Academy, where the principal quickly recognized his talent and allowed him to work as an assistant after classes. He eagerly took courses in chemistry, physics, and astronomy and even worked at Chicago Manual in his spare time. Books, especially On the Origin of Species, deeply influenced his worldview and sparked a desire to apply evolutionary principles across other scientific disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At seventeen, George was measuring wave lengths with his homemade telescope. He continued his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology while conducting his research on solar physics. During this time, he volunteered to assist Edward Pickering, director of the Harvard College Observatory, visiting renowned astronomers and immersing himself in studies of physics, mathematics, and chemistry. His four years in college flew by, setting the stage for his achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Invention_of_the_Spectroheliograph\"><\/span>Invention of the Spectroheliograph<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/05\/q8xnbkfyrunufm_ourviconinvfqcv1nel5oho-s9ck3vmm0tcwegguvwg13ajoyewxkybzba4a3wwrv8l58phtmckx49ui7phaojn4rraakemhnpb8jbbllsdw2jgjcr2pqs0m1grp4rncpczbsaai.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1889, Hale conceived the spectroheliograph, an instrument that allowed images of the Sun\u2019s chromosphere to be captured without relying on eclipses. His initial testing of the device was conducted at Harvard, but his breakthrough came in his home observatory, where many of his best ideas emerged. Observing solar spectra, he first witnessed a solar prominence, leading him to wonder if this phenomenon could be photographed in daylight\u2014a curiosity that eventually birthed the spectroheliograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His early attempts at building the telescope faced challenges, and initial solar photographs lacked quality. Nevertheless, Hale knew he was on the right track. Upon his return to Chicago, his father funded enhancements to their home observatory, expanding the space to house the spectroheliograph and a 12-inch refractor telescope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Establishment_of_Kenwood_Observatory\"><\/span>Establishment of Kenwood Observatory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/05\/ur7n7zg7wcf8y7bhwulfnob_5kcmdr7f4vztnof8_1q-esh2g5tc19tfokwvobtbhayyhpm0cjodqfbibbcnbiivvapieesvorqiakuevp2a49ybeqjms2dsdud1md7bur5u2kom9zb6ax_xe6xkooc.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hale family constructed a building with a dome and a library on their estate, establishing the Kenwood Observatory. The facility provided the resources to expand his solar research and laid the foundation for an astrophysical observatory. In 1891, The Sidereal Messenger published his study on magnesium bands, along with other articles on stellar and solar photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of Hale\u2019s significant discoveries was the identification of &#8220;sunspots,&#8221; areas on the Sun\u2019s surface affected by magnetic fields that lower temperatures. Together with Walter Adams, Hale found that sunspots are cooler than the surrounding surface, leading him to measure magnetic field intensity for the first time and discover an extraterrestrial magnetic field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"George_Hales_Contributions_to_Astronomy\"><\/span>George Hale\u2019s Contributions to Astronomy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/05\/yfxitauqr29mk9ggzibidzolfqch3lruft0ualnlvx_qmplsepglskjll2hitdrnbmdirg4j95ncgnu-tcy1ezq1cxtxxnrwf3bb9x0-iwldbefhvsn_005kt8agxlzqdc4sdg5-eet9yix3aftfuvw.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides being a talented scientist, George Hale was also an excellent organizer, significantly advancing American astronomy. He persuaded Chicago magnate Charles Yerkes to fund the construction of a 40-inch refractor, the largest of its kind at the time. The observatory, named Yerkes, was completed in 1897.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hale\u2019s ambitions didn\u2019t stop there. With funding from the Carnegie Institution, he established the Mount Wilson Observatory in California, a dual-purpose observatory and research facility that allowed for extensive solar and stellar research. Over the years, the Mount Wilson Observatory\u2019s equipment was consistently upgraded, and in 1917, it installed a 100-inch refractor, the world\u2019s largest telescope for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1928, Hale began designing a 200-inch telescope, a project that took two decades to complete. The Hale Telescope, as it was later named, was finally finished in 1948.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Hale was instrumental in establishing the California Institute of Technology, one of the premier educational institutions in the United States. He advocated for global collaboration among astronomers, leading to the first astronomy congresses that evolved into the International Astronomical Union in 1919.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>George Ellery Hale was a distinguished scientist from Chicago whose inventions enabled humanity to study planets and celestial bodies more closely. His contributions to the fields of science and astronomy are immeasurable, as reported by \u00abchicago1.one\u00bb. Early Years The future scientist was born in Chicago on June 29, 1868. As an active and inquisitive child, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":422,"featured_media":2278,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1166],"tags":[1736,1746,1749,1741,1738,1735,1739,1745,1742,1744,1748,1740,1747,1743,1737],"moimportance":[78,81],"motype":[1158],"moformat":[93],"class_list":{"0":"post-2426","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-education","8":"tag-astronomy-innovations-hale","9":"tag-astronomy-inventions-hale","10":"tag-chicago-astronomer-hale","11":"tag-early-solar-telescopes","12":"tag-famous-astronomers-hale","13":"tag-george-ellery-hale-biography","14":"tag-george-ellery-hale-legacy","15":"tag-hale-and-astrophysics","16":"tag-hales-astronomy-contributions","17":"tag-history-of-solar-telescope","18":"tag-mount-wilson-observatory","19":"tag-solar-observation-pioneer","20":"tag-solar-research-history","21":"tag-solar-telescope-inventor","22":"tag-telescope-advancements","23":"moimportance-golovna-novina","24":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori","25":"motype-eternal","26":"moformat-longrid-korotka"},"modified_by":"Inna Hananova","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/422"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2426"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2427,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426\/revisions\/2427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2426"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2426"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2426"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}