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Original 1963 Kodachrome 35mm color slide documenting the historic removal of the 36-inch telescope from Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
This remarkable photograph captures workers atop the observatory’s dome as a massive crane assists with the removal of the telescope. The image provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a significant moment in American astronomical history.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Steward Observatory opened in 1923 and housed a pioneering 36-inch reflecting telescope. By 1963, Tucson’s expanding development and increasing light pollution prompted the relocation of the telescope to Kitt Peak National Observatory, where darker skies offered improved observing conditions.
The University of Arizona’s own historical archives document this exact removal operation in 1963, including a remarkably similar photograph featuring the crane and workers atop the dome.
An exceptional piece of original photographic history documenting the evolution of astronomical research in the American Southwest.
Original vintage 35mm Kodachrome color slide. This is a one-of-a-kind amateur photograph—not a duplicate.
Listing photos of this slide were taken by camera phone over a light source. The actual slide image is crisper with finer detail and is ideal for scanning, enlargement, reproduction, or prints.
Condition:
Vintage slide with normal age-related wear to the mount from handling and storage. Image remains well preserved. Please review photos for handwritten notations and overall condition.
Slide will be securely packaged for shipment.
offer & purchase with confidence—I’ve been selling on with this same account since 1999. Please feel free to message me with any questions.
