Friends of the
Zeiss Public
Statement For
P.O. Box 1041 The Council of the
Pittsburgh PA 15230-1041 U.S.A. City of Pittsburgh
Telephone:
412-561-7876 By Glenn A. Walsh:
Electronic Mail: < fotz@planetarium.cc > Science Center Addition
Internet Web Site: < http://www.planetarium.cc >
Omits Historic Telescope
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2016 November 14
PHOTO OF BUHL’S SIDEROSTAT-TYPE
TELESCOPE ON PAGE 2
Good morning, I am Glenn A. Walsh,
633 Royce Avenue, Mt. Lebanon, Project Director of Friends of the Zeiss. From
1986 to 1991, I was Astronomical Observatory Coordinator at Pittsburgh’s
original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science in Allegheny Center.
This week (November 19th)
marks the 75th anniversary of a historic telescope operated at
Pittsburgh’s original Buhl Planetarium from 1941 to 1991. Called a
Siderostat-Type Telescope, it has a unique design, specifically for public use.
It allows the public to remain in a heated room, while the telescope stays out
in the cooler air. With a 10-inch lens, upon reinstallation it would be the
largest Siderostat-Type Telescope in the world, as two larger such telescopes
have both been dismantled.
In 2002, in anticipation of reuse of
Buhl Planetarium by the Children’s Museum, the City issued an RFP regarding
reuse of this City-owned telescope. Friends of the Zeiss responded with a
proposal to use the telescope, in-place, to benefit children visiting the
Children’s Museum. The Carnegie Science Center told the City they would store
the telescope until it could be installed in a future Science Center addition.
With a legal Memorandum of Understanding, the City accepted the Science
Center’s proposal.
Last month, the Science Center unveiled
a plan to build a $21 million building expansion and then reneged on its
promise to install the historic telescope in this future addition. Was the
Science Center ever serious about installing this telescope in a building
addition? Or was the Science Center’s true goal to dismantle the telescope so
neither Friends of the Zeiss, nor the Children’s Museum, could use this
telescope in competition with their new 16-inch reflector telescope? Sadly, the
evidence now seems clear that the Science Center’s true motive was to prevent
competition with their new telescope!
Now, this historic telescope has no
home. The telescope’s previous home is now used as a Board Room for the
Children’s Museum. Had the telescope not been dismantled, there would be no
major cost for its reuse, and it could have benefited children visiting the
Children’s Museum over the last decade. However, a major reinstallation cost
means that this historic telescope will likely remain in storage indefinitely,
educating no one.
The Carnegie Science Center has acted
improperly in this matter and should be held accountable for poor stewardship of
important and historic, City property. We, respectfully, ask that this Council
address this issue with Carnegie Museums management.
Thank you.
gaw