Columbia University Astronomy Department

Columbia's first telescope was lent to George Washington for use in the Battle of Long Island; both the telescope and the battle were lost.

Astronomy was first taught at Columbia in 1757 and, during the intervening 250-some years, has formed an important part of the University's curriculum, both as a discipline in which new scholars are trained, and as an introduction to the methodologies and perspectives of science for students pursuing other areas of inquiry. It was not until 1857 that the first Professor of Astronomy was appointed.  ...