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Lee Observatory

Coordinates: 33°54′1.96″N 35°28′47.29″E / 33.9005444°N 35.4798028°E / 33.9005444; 35.4798028
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Lee Observatory
OrganizationAmerican University of Beirut
LocationBeirut, Lebanon
Coordinates33°54′1.96″N 35°28′47.29″E / 33.9005444°N 35.4798028°E / 33.9005444; 35.4798028
Altitude38 m (125 ft)
Established1873 Edit this on Wikidata
Website[1]
Telescopes
telescope12 inch refractor
telescope3-inch transit
helioscopeSpectro-helioscope
DetectorCosmic Ray Detector
Lee Observatory is located in Lebanon
Lee Observatory
Location of Lee Observatory

The Lee Observatory is an astronomical observatory on the campus of the American University of Beirut in Beirut, Lebanon. Opened in 1873, it is the first and the oldest observatory[clarification needed] of the Middle East in modern times.

Nowadays the observatory has only an academic role.

History

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The Lee Observatory opened in 1873, with Doctor Cornelius Van Dyck as its pioneer. The observatory was named in reference to Henry Lee, a wealthy British merchant from Manchester, who had made a significant donation to help finance its construction. The observatory had twin roles of sky gazing and serving as a meteorological station for the middle east. Several directors and assistants managed the Observatory, including Van Dyck, who pursued astronomy as a hobby and had bought most of the equipment himself, and Professors Mansour Jurdak and Owen Gingerich, who organised the "Open Nights Observatory" events and made contributions to the observatory library.

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