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College and Campus Trivia

In 1986, the same year Halley’s comet last appeared in our inner solar system, this campus building celebrated its 90th anniversary and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

What building is it?

Answer: The U of I Observatory

Built in 1896, it houses a 13.5-foot telescope that gathers 1,843 times as much light as the human eye. On November 6, 1986—the day it was initiated into the National Register of Historic Places—more than 5,000 visitors came to the Observatory to view Halley’s comet.

« Other U of IQ college and campus trivia.