Category of Astronomical Heritage: tangible immovable
Observatório Astronômico da UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Description

Geographical position

Observatório Central da UFRGS (Instituto Astronômico e Meteorológico, IAM) for astronomy and meteorology (1908) -- today:
Observatório Astronômico da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Osvaldo Aranha, s/n Centro Historico, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-161, Brazil

Location

Latitude 30.032270° S, Longitude 51.221896° W, Elevation ...m above mean sea level.

IAU observatory code

Description of (scientific/cultural/natural) heritage

Fig. 1a. Observatório Central building in Porto Alegre (1909), (CC3, Ricardo Andre Frantz, user Tetraktys)

Fig. 1b. Observatório Central building in Porto Alegre (1909), (photo: Antônio Lídio Gomes)

The UFRGS Astronomical Observatory (OA) appears in the historical context of the transfer of the Porto Alegre School of Engineering, in 1899, to the location that currently houses the UFRGS Central Campus, with strong influences from positivism. On September 18, 1906, the Astronomical and Meteorological Institute (Instituto Astronômico e Meteorológico, IAM) was founded as part of the School of Engineering, being inaugurated on January 24, 1908 by the President of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Dr. Antônio Augusto Borges de Medeiros (1863--1961).
At the end of 1908, the Observatory began to have in its four floors, 1909, the Workshop, the Secretariat Section, the Meridian Room with Time Service and the Equatorial Room with dome.
The Astronomical Observatory forms a set of three small buildings together with the Château and the Castelinho, which contrast with the neighboring buildings of the same period (Engineering, Law, Instituto Júlio de Castilhos), of large dimensions.

This building is an emblematic work of the scientific emphasis of the Brazilian architect Manoel Barbosa Assumpção Itaqui (1876--1945), director of the Astronomical Observatory and professor at the engineering school. He also erected several other buildings of the current central campus from UFRGS.

Only a few observatories exists in Art Nouveau style -- here with a mixture of eclecticism and classicism -- with an aesthetic balance of evident influence of contemporary Belgian architecture -- the Observatório Central da UFRGS (Instituto Astronômico e Meteorológico, IAM) for astronomy and meteorology, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (1908), restoration in 2002 (cf. Granato, in: Wolfschmidt 2009, p.~130--131).

Fig. 2a. Meridian Room - the director Manoel Itaquy is measuring (CC4, Milena Lauschner)

Fig. 2b. Chronos (photo: Claudio Bevilacqua, CC4, Milena Lauschner)

In the meridian room is a fresco showing Chronos with a terrestrial globe; outside there is a impressive statue of Urania with a celestial globe and a sundial as decoration.

Fig. 3. Urania with a celestial globe and a sundial (credit: UFRGS)

Since its origin, the Astronomical Observatory had the vocation to provide services to the community, among them, the Hora Certa Service (timekeeping) and the implementation of meteorological stations in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in addition to Field Astronomy and Geodesy classes for Engineering students. The UFRGS was created in 1934 and until the 1960s the main task was the training of qualified engineers in geodesy.

In addition, other activities were: measurements of magnetic declination across the state, meteorological services and bulletins, seismography, observation of double and variable stars, determination of the height of the pole (latitude) of Porto Alegre and photographic record of comets, planets and aspects of the Moon. The Observatory was responsible for decades for the monthly publication of the Astronomical Ephemerides, including the map of the sky, in the traditional newspaper from Rio Grande do Sul, O Correio do Povo.

Fig. 4. Observatório Astronômico in Porto Alegre (Postcard)

In 1942, the part of Meteorology was federalized, leaving to the OA the didactic activities related to Astronomy.
In the 1940s, the Morro Santana Observatory (OMS) was inaugurated with the aim of developing research in Astrophysics.

In the University Reform implemented in 1969/70, Astronomy was grouped with Physics, and the OA/UFRGS became an auxiliary body of the Institute of Physics (IF) of UFRGS with the name that remains until the day of today: Astronomical Observatory of UFRGS (OA). In 1971, the Physics Department and the Department of Astronomy merged and it was decided to build a stellar photometer (initially with the support of the Observatory of La Plata in Argentina).

History

Fig. 5a. Meridian circle, A. Repsold & Söhne of Hamburg (1912), (credit: UFRGS)

Fig. 5b. Transit Instrument, A. Repsold & Söhne of Hamburg (1909) (photo: Claudio Bevilacqua, CC4, Milena Lauschner)

Instruments

7.5-cm-Meridian circle, A. Repsold & Söhne of Hamburg (1912)
Transit Instrument, A. Repsold & Söhne of Hamburg (1909)
Chronograph, Févarger of Switzerland (1912)
Pendulum Clock Charles Joseph (1907), mean solar time
(MOA-034-2)
Precision Pendulum Clock (No. 303), Sigmund Riefler of Munich (1910)
English Mariner Chronometer (No. 58088), Dent of London, Maker to the King
Magnetic Theodolite with meridian scope, portable, made by Gautier of Paris (teodolito magnetico chasselon e luneta meridiana portátil Gautier)
19-cm-Equatorial Refractor, made by Gautier of Paris

$19-cm-Equatorial Refractor, made by Gautier of Par$

Fig. 6a. 19-cm-Equatorial Refractor, made by Gautier of Paris (1908) (CC4, Milena Lauschner)

$19-cm-Equatorial Refractor, made by Gautier of Par$

Fig. 6b. 19-cm-Equatorial Refractor, made by Gautier of Paris, the director Manoel Itaquy is observing (photo: Claudio Bevilacqua, CC4, Milena Lauschner)

State of preservation

Fig. 7a. Observatório Astronômico da UFRGS, Western facade, Porto Alegre (Photo: Adriana Yumi Nishitani)

Fig. 7b. Observatório Central da UFRGS (© Marcus Granato)

The Observatório Central da UFRGS (Instituto Astronômico e Meteorológico, IAM), Porto Alegre, is recognized by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN): <i>"Itaqui’s eclecticism mixes vague references to classicism with art noveau characteristics, which demonstrate its familiarity with an architecture style suggested at the time in Europe and non-existent in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul."</i>
In August 2002, the historic building, listed by the <i>National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute</i> (IPHAN), was handed over to society, restored.

Fig. 8. Observatório Central da UFRGS (© Marcus Granato)

Comparison with related/similar sites

Fig. 9. Observatório Astronômico da UFRGS (credit: UFRGS)

Only a few observatories exist in Art Nouveau style, besides this Brazil observatory, Observatório Astronômico da UFRGS (Instituto Astronômico e Meteorológico, IAM) in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (1908), also the following observatories:
Fabra Observatory, Spain (1904), Ondřejov Observatory (1908), Czech Republic, the Pavillon Hirsch (1909/11) of Neuchâtel Observatory, Switzerland, and the Ole Rømer Observatory in Aarhus, Denmark (1911).

Threats or potential threats

no threats

Present use

Over the years, with technological changes, the OA has lost its primary functions. Currently, it develops activities aimed at the community, such as guided tours of the museum, sky observation and workshops, offered to schools and the general public.

Astronomical relevance today

The Observatório Central da UFRGS is no longer used for astronomical research, but for astronomy outreach. The UFRGS Astronomical Observatory, an auxiliary body of the Institute of Physics, aims to promote development, education and social inclusion through astronomy and related sciences, using research, formal and non-formal teaching and extension activities, in addition to to rescue and preserve the memory of Astronomy in Rio Grande do Sul. Among the services offered to the population are observation of the night sky and guided tours of the collection, available to schools, by appointment, and to the general public.
In the 2000s, the Campus do Vale Observatory (OCV) was created in order to meet the didactic demands of the Department of Astronomy.

References

Bibliography (books and published articles)

Araújo César Augusto Papini de: A Trajetória do Observatório Astronômico do Rio Grande do Sul (1907 a 1933). Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Monografia), Curso de Bacharelado em Museologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Allegre 2013.
Bevilacqua, Claudio Miguel (OA/UFRGS): "O Observatório da UFRGS: patrimônio histórico nacional" em História da Astronomia no Brasil. Oscar T. Matsuura (ed.), Comissão Editorial: Alfredo T. Tolmasquim, Antonio Augusto P. Videira, Christina H. Barboza e Walter J. Maciel. Companhia Editora de Pernambuco. Realização Museu de Astronomia e Ci├¬ncias Afins. 2013, p. 633-655.
Brenni, Paolo: Trinta anos de atividades. Instrumentos cientificos de interesse histórico. In: Ribeiro, Ana Maria (ed.): Caminho para as estrelas. Rio de Janeiro: MAST 2007.
Cattelan, Luís Gustavo Prates & Brito, Alan Alves: PORTO ALEGRE: CIDADE DAS ESTRELAS: Uma perspectiva histórica pelas lentes de seus Observatórios Astronômicos.
Granato, Marcus: Granato, Marcus: Heritage and Observatories in Brazil at the Turn of the Twentieth Century: an Overview. In: Wolfschmidt 2009, p. 130--131.
Levorci Neto, Antonio: Gestão do Conhecimento como instrumento de gestão em uma IFES: Diagnóstico e proposiç├Áes para o Observatório Astronômico da UFRGS. Porto Alegre 2017.
Ribeiro, Emanuela Sousa: Anais do III Seminário Gestão do Patrimônio Cultural de Ci├¬ncia e Tecnologia. 2015.
https://editora.ufpe.br/books/catalog/download/20/13/38?inline=1
Vasconcellos, César A. Zen; Bernasiuk, Chistoph e Bica. In: Damiani, Eduardo L.: Observatório Astronômico da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul: 100 anos. Porto Alegre: Editora da UFRGS 2008.
Wolfschmidt, Gudrun (ed.): Cultural Heritage of Astronomical Observatories -- From Classical Astronomy to Modern Astrophysics. Proceedings of International ICOMOS Symposium in Hamburg, October 14--17, 2008. Berlin: hendrik Bäßler-Verlag (International Council on Monuments and Sites, Monuments and Sites XVIII) 2009.