Indiana Light Pollution: Then vs. Now

When did Bloomington start having electric streetlights? 

Bloomington installed its first electric street light in May 1886. The city initially purchased 9 lights to be operated every night until midnight (unless there was "good moonlight") for $600/year. The lights had their public debut on July 4th, 1886 and by the fall the city had invested in even more lights. By 1889, Bloomington was operating 42 lights for both municipal and personal use. 

So... what would have been visible in the night sky? 

Theophilus Wylie was a meticulous record keeper and would record certain astronomical events in his diaries. Using research and info from the Astronomy Department, we have determined that at least 12 of the comets and aurorae that he claims to see are associated with recorded astronomical events: 

• Halley's Comet (in Pennsylvania)
  • "After tea went to the garden and saw for the first time, Halley's comet, what a fine thing it is to have one's name tacked to a comet, some think they have fame enough if their name goes around the world, but here Mr. Halley's crosses the orbit not only of the Earth but of all the other planets. Its tail was quite perceptible pointing towards the south east."
• The Great March Comet of 1843 (C/1843 D1)
  • "We might add that there has been visible in the heavens soon after sunset, for some time past a comet with a tremendous tail, I saw it first Wednesday, 8th about 15 minutes of 7 O'C P.M., but mistook it for a cloud, as there were several something like it in diff't parts of the sky. On Sat 12th it was brightest. It seems now to be having its perihelion & to be growing fainter, on last Saturday the length of the tail was about 35°."
• Donati's Comet (C/1858 L1) 
  • "Comet very beautiful this evening. About 8 o'c 4th, 5th, 6th Oct rainy. 7th comet splendid, tail reached beyond the crown, just grazing the northern starts of the crown."
  • "The comet fast disappearing"
• The Great Meteor Procession of 1860 (the subject of a Whitman poem) 
  • "About 9 O'C P.M. my Dick called my attention to something very like a comet in the N.W. -- The moon was shining, & some bright clouds were near the horizon but still we could perceive a distinct tail directed from the horizon upwards inclining to the north, if produced it would pass through the two brightest starts of the little bear. It resembled the aurora borealis streamer, but , its steadiness & being the only light of the kind visible made me think it a comet. Comet visible, apparently leaving the sun."
• The Great Comet (C/1861 J1)
  • "Last Sab. Ev'g a most beautiful comet appeared, tail extending from near the horizon just grazing the Polar star to a Cyree & past it till lost in the milky way -- It has been moving upward from the horizon, till now it is about 6° from aliott & nearly in a line with the polar Star."
  • "For some nights back can see hardly any change in the position of the comet which is now nearly invisible to the naked eye."
• Coggia's Comet (C/1874 H1)
  • "Saw a notice of a comet discovered by some body (Cozzina?) in Marseilles. -- just beginning to be visible. After considerable hunt of an hour or so found it not very far from the nose of the great bear towards the east. It was a very pretty object, nucleus plain -- P color reddish, border of coma not well defined, hardly in length equal to the diameter of the moon. Head downward inclined towards the east."
  • "It is said to be approaching the earth. Looks as if it perihelia would be almost directly between the earth at this date and the sun."
  • "Examined class on Thursday -- Read exam papers -- looked at the comet last night. About 30 persons were here to look from 8 O'C to 11:30 -- Comet seems to remain stationary in place and size. Not seen to advantage on account of the moon. -- Had a pretty view of the moon & Jupiter & Saturn -- a fine cluster in the Milky way near the Scorpions tail."
  • "Comet increasing in beauty. looks to me from the outer as if its course would be somehow thus."
  • "Seems to me that the comet should cross the [eclipse], nearly directly between the earth & sun, not far from orbit of Venus & that the ascending mode should be on the other side the sun from earth but cannot see that the motion is direct."

The IU Astronomy Department wasn't founded until 1895, but have access to historical data from previous years. According to the Astronomy Department, aurora borealis is more likely to occur during years with high solar activity. Theophilus reports seeing it in 1836 (in Pennsylvania), 1859, 1874, and 1886, all years with higher solar activity. 

I want to see comets! What can I do to help reduce light pollution?

Here are some resources for more information & ways to help:

National Geographic

World Economic Forum

International Dark-Sky Association

Dark-Sky Parks in Indiana

Additional information about these telescopes:

Are the telescopes original to the family?

The larger telescope belonged to Andrew Wylie; both he and his younger cousin Theophilus were interested in astronomy. The smaller telescope however is not original and is meant to represent Lizzie Breckenridge, a domestic servant for the Theophilus Wylie family, and her own interest in astronomy. The book next to the telescope, "Easy Star Lessons" by Richard Proctor is a book that we know she read, although this copy is not original. 

How is the quilt related?

This quilt is a contemporary art piece that was a part of the 2020 Call and Response exhibit at Wylie House. The goal of this exhibit was to acknowledge the previously unrepresented histories of those associated with the Wylie House. Some of these pieces permanently reside in the house, including this piece by artist Joann Quiñones entitled "Lizzie Liked Stars". This piece is based upon the information we have about Lizzie and her life; Lizzie was passionate about reading and astronomy according to an article written about her in the Indianapolis News. 

How else is the Wylie family connected to Bloomington astronomy?

Theophilus Wylie was friends with Daniel Kirkwood, an astronomer during the late 1800s. His name may sound familiar because of Kirkwood Avenue but there is also the Kirkwood Observatory in Bloomington named after him. Theophilus would often invite other professors from IU to join him up on the widow's walk of the house as it was ideal for stargazing. According to previous research, Wylie House was one of the only houses in Bloomington that had a widow's walk at the time. Because of this, the University kept their telescope at Wylie House for some time. It's likely that both families, Lizzie, and potentially some students from the University would have used the house as a stargazing site.