16.6: Astronomical Architecture
- Page ID
- 128554
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Science and Society - Astronomy Architecture
As most of this chapter has focused on the structure and distribution of galaxies in space, this section of Science and Society will focus on human-built structures used to observe the cosmos. Instead of focusing on the well-known structures such as the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Stonehenge in England, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, we've opted to highlight a couple of lesser-known structures that are just as interesting to learn about both from an architectural and scientific perspective.
Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar is a set of 19 astronomical instruments constructed in the 1720s and 30s in northern India by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh. While this era of science was particularly active in terms of advancements and discoveries, there were still longstanding challenges with maintaining reliable documentation of the positions of planets and stars at any given time. The astrolabe was an important tool that likely influenced Jai Singh to improve on the timekeeping measurements so that the tables of predictions more closely matched real-time observations.
The stone structures of Jantar Mantar combine science, art, and geometry to showcase their unique application of astronomical knowledge of the time. The set of five observatories feature the world's largest stone sundial, along with instruments for measuring time, predicting eclipses, and tracking the locations of planets and stars throughout the year. Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) is a view of the main observatory, located in Jaipur, India.
Because of the large size of the instruments, all can be used with the naked eye and offer a high degree of accuracy. For example, the large sundial can used for measuring time with an accuracy within 20 seconds. Some instruments use the local horizon-zenith coordinate system, while others use equatorial or ecliptic coordinates for tracking objects.
McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope
A more modern example of interesting astronomy architecture is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telelscope, located at the Kitt Peak National Observatory, just outside of Tucson, AZ. This 110 foot tall structure was built in 1962, at the time was designed to be the largest unobstructed aperture optical telescope in the world. It is named after the astronomers Robert Raynolds McMath and Keith Pierce, both known for their contributions to solar astronomy and leading in the design of the telescope. Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) is an aerial view of the telescope shown atop Kitt Peak. The white rectangular structure on the right side of the image is the Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) facility, which was later built in 2003.
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Using a series of mirrors and lenses, the McMath-Pierce telescope reflects and focuses the Sun's light down through the diagonal shaft, which continues underground toward the observing room. Similar to an iceberg floating in water, the shaft of the telescope extends further underground than what appears above ground, about 274 feet in total height.
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The telescope needed several modifications over the years due to challenges of strong atmospheric distortion. Using adaptive optics and two spectrographs, the telescope was able to take high resolution images of sunspots and spectra of the Sun's atmosphere. The observatory is also known for the first detection of water and isotopic helium on the Sun.
As of 2017, the solar telescope was officially decommissioned for scientific use. However, the facility has been renovated as an astronomy visualization and presentation center. The center features special exhibits on the history of solar astronomy and also hosts educational programs in collaboration with the Tohono O'odham Nation. Kitt Peak National Observatory, which is located in the Schuk Toak district on Tohono O'odham Nation land, 56 miles west of Tucson, Arizona.
Attributions
This page was adapted from "National Science Foundation to Fund New Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach at Kitt Peak National Observatory" in NoirLab originally written by NoirLab, and published under CC BY 4.0.
References
Jantar Mantar. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jantar_Mantar
McMath–Pierce Solar Telescope. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMath%E2%80%93Pierce_solar_telescope
UNESCO World Heritage Convention. (2010). The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1338/