William Brydone Jack Observatory - Fredericton, New Brunswick
Posted by: Weathervane
N 45° 56.882 W 066° 38.448
19T E 682847 N 5090979
In 1851, William Brydone Jack built the first astronomical observatory in what is now Canada and equipped it with the best available instruments.
Waymark Code: WM14KQ2
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Date Posted: 07/22/2021
Views: 4
The William Brydone Jack Observatory National Historic Site of Canada is a small structure, consisting of an octagonal tower topped with an octagonal conical roof, with a one-storey, gable roofed portion to one side. The building is covered with wooden clapboarding, and simple wooden mouldings and brackets under the roof finish the exterior surfaces. The interior volumes are also plain and serviceable. Designation refers to the building on its footprint.
William Brydone Jack Observatory was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1954 because it was the first astronomical observatory in Canada.
The William Brydon Jack Observatory was built in 1851 at the instigation of William Brydone Jack, professor of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy; and president of the University of New Brunswick, 1861-65. Schooled in the traditions of Scottish universities, he equipped the observatory with the best instruments of the day. In collaboration with Harvard observatory, he determined the longitude of Fredericton and other places in New Brunswick, and corrected errors in international boundaries.
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