U.S. Naval ObservatoryIn 1830, the U.S. Naval Observatory, one of the oldest scientific agencies in the U.S., was established as the Depot of Charts and Instruments in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission was to care for the U.S. Navy's chronometers, charts and other navigational equipment. The first instrument installed was a 30-inch portable transit. Lieutenant Louis M. Goldsborough was the first officer in charge of the observatory. Today, the U.S. Naval Observatory is the preeminent authority in the areas of time keeping and celestial observing; determining and distributing the timing and astronomical data required for accurate navigation and fundamental astronomy.[Image: Officer-in-Charge of the Depot of Charts and Instruments 6 Dec 1830 - 11 Feb 1833, Lt Louis M. Goldsborough.] |
