Document 4 of 14 Page 1 of 5

ACCESS NUMBER 1009073

DATE 09/23/98

NEWSPAPER THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR/THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS

DAY WED

**HEADLINE CHASING STAR DUST

**BYLINE TIM EVANS; STAFF WRITER

SECTION METRO NORTH

EDITION CITY;HOME

ART COLOR PHOTOS

PAGE N04

STORY LENGTH 25

**KEYWORDS GOETHE LINK OBSERVATORY; MORGAN COUNTY;

ASTRONOMY

SUBJECT TERMS SPACE; SCIENCE

KEYWORD-HIT.

BROOKLYN, Ind. - Fifty years ago, scientists from around the world trekked to the hills of Morgan County for a glimpse into the mysteries of the night sky.

Their visual journey into the heavens began at the Goethe Link Observatory, a little-known Hoosier treasure that will live well into the 21^st century thanks to the efforts of a group of amateur astronomers and Indiana University officials.

Constructed between 1937 and 1939 by Dr. Goethe Link, an amateur astronomer and a pioneer in the field of goiter treatment, the observatory was once a leading facility for identifying asteroids.

A steady stream of internationally known astronomers were attracted to its 36-inch folded Cassegrain reflector telescope, designed as a prototype for the 200-inch Mount Palomar telescope in California.

Today, the observatory remains a viable astronomical facility.

** "I see Link as a Hoosier landmark that can still meet the needs of public education and amateur research," said John May of Mooresville, vice president of the Indiana Astronomical Society.

** The connection between the observatory - given by Link to Indiana University in 1948 - and the astronomical society goes back to before the facility’s construction.

** Link built the observatory with the intent of making it available to IAS members, who helped with the design, May said. The society also helped locate and grind down the telescope mirror.

May said the observatory still is a usable facility but needs work to bring it up to date. The most pressing need is preventive maintenance to preserve the 64-ton metal and wood dome, which rotates on a rail mounted on the walls.

"Like any building 60 years of age, it needs the appropriate attention," said society member Kevin Fleming of Indianapolis. "It needs a new surface for the dome. IU is considering what method it ** will use to accomplish that project."

** Link’s widow recalled that he made the donation to IU because the university, which already was using the observatory, did not have a facility of its own.

** The school added a 10-inch telescope and used the Link for asteroid research and other academic work. From the 1950s through the 1980s, the university shared the facility with IAS.

By the late ‘80s, IU had opened two more modern observatories **and gave the society carte blanche use of the Link for public education and amateur research.

"When it was built in 1936, it was an ideal site," said May. "It was the first high hill south of Indianapolis and out far enough to be dark."

IAS President Dan Goins , Martinsville, said the group is lucky to have it. "We’re probably the only astronomical society in the country with such a facility," he said. "Our biggest concern right now is light pollution."

The problem stems from the southward spread of development. "The observatory needs a helping hand to continue to function as it has so well over the years," Fleming said. "It is located 25 miles from Monument Circle, and in the 1930s the sky looked drastically different than it does in 1998. It is far brighter than it has ever been."

Fleming added that light pollution is a problem that can be corrected by taking a few simple steps.

The solution would require city lights to be aimed and focused better, which also reduces glare for motorists. This also saves energy by not losing unneeded light into the sky.

@ART CREDIT:JOE VITTI

@ART CAPTION:PURPLE DUSK: Astronomical Society members look for

Uranus and Neptune with a Wilkins 12 ½-inch Newtonian reflector

telescope on the observatory lawn. The planets were both visible in

the same area of the sky on a recent night. Star trails are visible

in the upper left corner.

@ART CAPTION:LITTLE STARS CLIMB: The interior of the dome of the

observatory (left) is bathed in red light as the star trails are

visible during this long camera exposure. The biggest concern now is

light pollution.