Astronomy
Home to the Astronomy team, the honorarily named Wolfe Observatory houses several telescopes used to engage students with a distant view of God's creation and His glory.
Wolfes Legacy Honored
THE TAYLOR MAGAZINE ARTICLE BY UNKNOWN
While those passing the Euler and Nussbaum science facilities may first notice the three–story atrium that connects the two buildings and the heliostat dome that provides reflected sunlight through the core of Euler, there is also a small, somewhat non–descript dome atop Nussbaum that has served as Taylor's observatory whose telescopes have let students study the heavens in their vast array for two decades.
That observatory now has a name after family and friends of the late Taylor science Professor Emeritus Robert (Bob) Wolfe '58 gathered in September for a ceremony naming it in Wolfe's memory. Wolfe, who died in 2016 at 88, taught at Taylor for 31 years. His course load included physics, chemistry, and astronomy.
Family, friends, and his former colleagues remembered him as a man who was continually enthralled by the constellations of stars and far away galaxies that could be seen in the night skies.
“Naming the observatory after Dr. Wolfe is extremely appropriate as he loved teaching his family and students about stars and planets inGod's amazing universe,” said Dr. Grace Ju Miller, Dean of Sciences, Education, and Social Sciences at Taylor.
“While Dr. Wolfe's retirement was prior to my arrival on campus, his impact on our faculty, alumni, and our science program continues to be valued.” she added. “As I attended the ceremony I was touched by the many tributes to Dr. Wolfe and it helped me to more deeply appreciate the Godly influence our faculty steward in the lives of our students.”
The observatory is equipped with a Celestron 14 inch telescope and a solar scope — the latter making it possible for viewers to safely view solar eclipses and sun flares. It hosts a J–Term astronomy class when clear, cold conditions are ripe for star gazing and is able to rotate in accordance with the Earth's rotation.
Steve Wolfe '90 reflected on his father's legacy, and that of his mother, Roseanne (Shippy '59), who died just days before the dedication.
“Having the official naming of Taylor's observatory to the 'Robert C. Wolfe' Observatory means so much to our family,” Wolfe said. “Not only the honor we feel when we see our father's name recognized, but what means the most is knowing our father's love and passion for Taylor's Physics and Astronomy is being noticed now and into the future. Dad loved Taylor and specifically their commitment to the integration of faith and learning.”
“Mom loved Taylor just as much as he did,” he continued. “Seeing the photo of them together just reminds us ofthe faithfulness they had to each other, their educational professions and their shared love for their Savior.”