UC Observatories (UCO) is a Multi-campus Research Unit of the University of California, providing UC astronomers with a state-of-the-art astronomical research facility.
Lick Observatory, part of UCO, are located on the summit of 4200' Mount Hamilton in the Diablo Range, overlooking the San Francisco Bay. It's administrative headquarters, instrument and optics laboratories are based at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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UC and Lick Observatory astronomers honored on New Zealand Space Pioneers stamps. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1905/S00216/four-uc-scientists-honoured-on-nz-space-pioneers-stamps.htm
Sprinkled in star dust, four University of Canterbury (UC) scientific alumni and staff have been honoured, featuring among six Kiwis chosen to appear on new ‘New Zealand Space Pioneers’ postage stamps.
"Silent Sky", a play by Lauren Gunderson, is about Henrietta Leavitt, her experience as a woman in astronomy, and her discovery of the Cepheid variable star period-luminosity relationship. Lick Observatory astronomer Elinor Gates helped the cast understand the science and the history of women in astronomy in preparation for this production by City Lights Theater Company in San Jose. https://www.kqed.org/arts/13857555/silent-sky-shines-a-spotlight-on-a-woman-in-love-with-astronomy
San Francisco playwright Lauren Gunderson resurrects the story of a trailblazing astronomer and her cohort.
The AMGEN Tour of California Race came through Lick Observatory today.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmycNJzh
Explore this photo album by Elinor Gates on Flickr!
Want to take photos like these beauties taken by Chris Cassell, who attended our May 8th Photography Night? Get behind the scenes access to the 36" refractor, the historic Main Building, and access to views of San Jose and the sky to do art photos, nighttime photography, and/or astrophotography. Tickets are still available for most of the 2019 Photography Nights. More information is available on-line at http://www.ucolick.org/main/visit/photo.html
2019 Mandel Lecture: Lava Worlds to Living Worlds
Lava Worlds to Living Worlds: How a NASA Mission Sparked the Search for Life Beyond Earth Featuring astrophysicist Natalie Batalha Former lead scientist on the Kepler mission, Natalie Batalha detects and characterizes planets orbiting other stars in the galaxy, with the objective of finding evidence...
Dr. Natalie Batalha will be present a free public talk about exoplanets at the Rio Theater in Santa, Cruz on Wednesday June 5th at 7:30pm.
https://calendar.ucsc.edu/event/2019_mandel_lecture_lava_worlds_to_living_worlds#.XMymiGSpGL4
Lava Worlds to Living Worlds: How a NASA Mission Sparked the Search for Life Beyond Earth Featuring astrophysicist Natalie Batalha Former lead scientist on the Kepler mission, Natalie Batalha detects and characterizes planets orbiting other stars in the galaxy, with the objective of finding evidence...
Dr. Sandra Faber, former Director of Lick Observatory, received the Magellanic Premium Medal for her contributions to astronomy.
https://news.ucsc.edu/2019/04/faber-medal.html
Faber was honored for her transformative research on galaxy formation and evolution.
Photography Night tickets are now available to the public at ucsctickets.com.
http://ucolick.org/main/visit/photo.html
At the summit of Mt. Hamilton, above the city of San Jose, we have spectacular views of the night sky. Due to Lick Observatory's popularity with photographers, we are organizing ten photography events this year.
The first image of the event horizon of a black hole! This image shows the black hole in M87, a galaxy in the constellation Virgo, and its immediate environment. Back in 1918, Heber Curtis (using Lick Observatory's Crossley Telescope) discovered a jet of material emanating from the center of M87. It was the first clue that something different was going on at the center of this galaxy, which later was determined to be a supermassive black hole.
https://aasnova.org/2019/04/10/first-images-of-a-black-hole-from-the-event-horizon-telescope/?fbclid=IwAR1DKx29BbOmh8mCJizgRuUMwDuXi-eYgexfosdVJmA5VkTlRpzidPuNU6s
Astronomers have used a telescope that spans the globe to capture the first detailed images of a black hole.
The AMGEN Tour of California bicycle race will be coming through Lick Observatory on Tuesday May 14th.
https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/route-2019/mens-stage-3-may-14-2019?fbclid=IwAR35gWibYWwSlZUHIFS-zgvs_1p2Q1VNPeuuTDdIJv1Vc1T8uWIWnZP55w0
The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG.
Summer programs draw visitors to Lick Observatory for music and stargazing
Tickets go on sale in April for the observatory's popular summer evening programs.
Want to take photographs at Lick Observatory after hours? Sign up for our Photography Night mailing list at http://ucolick.org/main/visit/photo.html. We have ten Photography Nights scheduled for 2019 and the only way to get information on how to get tickets is to be on the mailing list. Tickets will go on sale on April 17th at Noon. Photo credit: Nilay Chheda.
February is statistically our worst weather month at Lick Observatory. This year we had record amounts of snowfall on the mountain!
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/multimedia/February-Marked-Mount-Hamiltons-Snowiest-Month-on-Record-506994981.html
Last night we got about 3” of snow and more is possible today. CHP and CalTrans have closed the road due to hazardous conditions until Monday at 4pm. Hence the Observatory Visitors Center will be closed today.
Dr. Sandra Faber will be speaking on March 19, 2019 on "Cosmic Knowledge and the Future of the Human Race." Lectures are free and open to the public. Can't make it to the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus to attend in person? You can now stream the lectures on-line and join in the conversation via online comments!
https://specialevents.ucsc.edu/kraw-lecture/
Cool research being done with the Automated Planet Finder Telescope at Lick Observatory.
https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/laser-test-finds-no-evidence-of-alien-megastructure-around-weird-star
New research dampens hopes that light fluctuations from Boyajian's Star were caused by extraterrestrial engineering. Andrew Masterson reports.
Save the Date! Lick Observatory's Summer Event tickets go on sale at Noon on Wednesday April 17th to the general public. Friends of Lick Observatory members have access to purchase tickets for some events starting Weds April 10th at Noon (you must be a member by April 1st to take advantage of this membership benefit).
Our events sell out extremely quickly, so mark your calendars now so you don't miss your chance to attend a concert or view through our telescopes!
Dr. Sandra Faber, former director of Lick Observatory, will be speaking about "Cosmic Knowledge and the Future of the Human Race" on March 19th at 6pm at the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus. Admission is free.
https://calendar.ucsc.edu/event/march_kraw_lecture_with_sandra_faber_7528#
The March Kraw Lecture featuring Sandra Faber. Modern astronomy is telling us the story of our cosmic origins—how the Galaxy was assembled, how the Sun and Earth were formed, and where the chemical elements came from that comprise our bodies. We can now use this knowledge of our cosmic past to pre...
Dr. Alex Filippenko will be speaking tonight at the Kahilu Theatre in Kamuela, HI about "Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe." Keck Observatory is managed in part by UC Observatories, the parent organization of Lick Observatory.
http://www.keckobservatory.org/filippenko_talk/
The Keck Observatory telescopes on Maunakea in Hawaii, are the world’s largest optical and infrared telescopes. Keck Observatory's vision is to advance the frontiers of astronomy and share our discoveries with the world.
Elinor Gates, staff astronomer at Lick Observatory, took this photo of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park (at center of the photograph) on February 18th. The day after a large winter storm tends to be the clearest and give the best views of the Sierra Nevada from the Observatory.
WOW! This photo of Half Dome was taken yesterday from 118 miles away at Lick Observatory near San Jose. (Courtesy: Elinor Gates)
Our HamCam2 web camera got a lovely photo the Super Snow Moon rising this evening. This is the brightest full moon of 2019.
Lick Observatory ranks among the best for student access to telescopes and innovative science programs. One of the jewels of the UC astronomy education system.
https://www.studyinternational.com/news/5-of-the-best-us-university-observatories/
For students who are interested in the world of astronomy, these 5 university observatories in the US are amazing!
Snowfall this morning has covered our all-sky web camera and more snow is expected over the next few days. CHP and CalTrans have closed Mt. Hamilton Rd. (Hwy 130) because of the icy, hazardous conditions on the road. The road will be closed through at least 4pm Monday Feb. 18.
A fascinating article about Dr. Claire Max, the director of UC Observatories (which manages Lick Observatory and is a partner in the Keck Observatory and Thirty Meter Telescope).
http://www.independentnews.com/news/former-livermore-physicist-directs-uc-astronomical-observatories/article_8e9be9f2-2a39-11e9-b207-8fe2fb921768.html
To enter the world of Claire Max is to encounter some of the most exotic mysteries in the universe: what happens when black holes collide? What do gravitational waves reveal about violent events billions of light years from Earth? What is happening to our Milky Way galaxy as it gobbles up smaller ga...
Mount Hamilton Road (CA-130) is closed due to snow and ice through Monday 4pm, and may be closed longer if road conditions don't improve. You can look up the status of highway 130 on-line before heading to the Observatory to make sure it is open. Please drive carefully and stay safe during these winter storms! http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
Department of Transportation
Tony Misch, head of our Historical Collections, is in a fascinating interview about Lick Observatory's history, women astronomers, and ties to famous scientists Albert Einstein and Johannes Kepler.
https://kamlashow.com/2019/01/28/tony-misch-on-hidden-figures-at-lick-observatory-albert-einstein-johannes-kepler/
Tony Misch is director of Lick Observatory Historical Collection projects Lick Observatory located in Silicon Valley is a historic observatory and one of the oldest observatories in western USA.…
About 6.5 inches of total snowfall on Mt. Hamilton from the storm that ended this morning. Photos by Elinor Gates
Snow started coming down at about 10am yesterday and it is predicted to continue through this morning. Mount Hamilton Road (CA-130) is closed due to the snow and icy conditions. Our maintenance staff is using the observatory snow plow to keep our mountain roads and driveways clear so our staff can get to and from the telescope domes and do our jobs today. Snowy days allow our staff to catch up on preventive maintenance and improvements to the telescopes, as well as analyze data from the telescopes, since we won't be able to view the skies until the weather clears and the domes are clear of snow and ice.
Rain turned to snow as light flurries began falling and sticking to the ground just below 4,000 feet on Mount Hamilton.
George Madeira helped inspire James Lick to build “a telescope superior to and more powerful than any telescope yet made ... and also a suitable observatory connected therewith.” Read more about George Madeira and the history of astronomy in California in this excellent article published in today's SF Chronicle.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/How-one-Amador-County-miner-inspired-world-s-13581224.php
For more stories like this, check out The Chronicle’s weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. In the spring of 1843, George Madeira gazed up and saw the bright body and hazy tail of a comet streaking across the night sky. The sight sparked an interest in astronomy that would carry him throughout h...
A Total Lunar Eclipse will occur on Sunday Jan 20th. All you need is a clear view of the Moon and good weather to see the Moon move through the Earth's shadow. If you are in the Bay Area the partial eclipse begins at 7:34pm, totality starts at 8:41pm, totality ends at 9:44pm, and the partial eclipse ends at 10:51pm.
https://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/your-guide-to-januarys-supermoon-total-lunar-eclipse/?k=jxF3xwETEGS%2Fmxn2StwHN8YuaNHnXZ89PtUIyeIfgvo%3D&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-190111&cid=DM96964&bid=965549451
How to see the total lunar eclipse on the night of January 20–21. Watch as the first full Moon of 2019 dances delightfully with Earth's shadow!
Dr. Arnold Klemola worked at Lick Observatory, primarily using the Carnegie Dual Astrograph telescope, starting in 1967. Even though he retired in 1992, he remained active in research at Lick through the end of 2018. He will be dearly missed by his friends and colleagues at Lick Observatory.
https://news.ucsc.edu/2019/01/klemola-in-memoriam.html
Arnold Klemola, a long-time staff researcher at UC Observatories, passed away on January 5, 2019. He was 87.
Dr. Alex Filippenko will be speaking at Foothill College on Jan 23 at 7pm. Much of his research is done at Lick Observatory and his talks are always fun and informative!
https://patch.com/california/losaltos/famed-astronomer-speak-foothill-college
For those who find black holes and exploding stars fascinating, renowned scientist Alex Fillipenko will put even more flair in the topics.
Early 2019 appears to be continuing the trend witnessed as 2018 came to a close: once again, the names of two former Lick Observatory astronomers are presently being echoed throughout world media:
Approximately 240,000 miles from Earth, on 3 January, on the Moon's far side, Chinese robotic lunar rover Yutu 2 trundled away from its Chang'e-4 mother ship some 12 hours after it landed, and started exploring Aitkin basin - named for former Lick Observatory Director Robert G. Aitkin (31 December 1864 to 29 October 1951).
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190105.html
From over 16,000 times further away, on 2 January, the first high quality images of the bowling pin shaped object, nicknamed Ultima Thule where received from the New Horizons spacecraft following its latest encounter. Like Pluto, Ultima Thule is a Kuiper Belt Object - named for former Lick Observatory astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper (7 December 1905 to 23 December 1973).
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190104.html
A different astronomy and space science related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation.
High school junior David Lipman is using Lick Observatory data to search for signals from extra terrestrial life.
A high school junior dug deep into the data on a mysteriously dimming star to search for evidence of a highly advanced civilization.
Lick Observatory continues to be in the news because of the bolide meteor visible after sunset on Dec 19th. https://technewsobserver.com/news/2018/12/29/social-media-abuzz-over-mysterious-bright-light-in-the-sky/
Social Media Abuzz Over Mysterious Bright Light in the Sky Posted By: Kay Greene December 29, 2018 As the sun was about to set along the west coast of the United States on Wednesday evening, some people reported seeing a mysterious light in the sky. During an average—read: busy—commute, many dri...
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Save the date and mark your calendars: the 38th Annual Summer Series ("Evening with the Stars" and "Music of the Spheres") as well as our Public Evening Tours will go on sale on Wednesday, April 18th, at noon on www.ucsctickets.com. Take a sneak peek, we already have all performers for this year under contract: http://www.ucolick.org/summer/index.html New this year: the Public Evening Tours go on sale the same day as the Summer Series events. Also, you have to be 12 or older to participate in "Music of the Spheres" (ages 8+ for "Evening with the Stars" and the Public Evening Tours). Join Friends of Lick Observatory (FoLO) and get early access to tickets for "Evening with the Stars" and "Music of the Spheres" (NOT the Public Evening Tours) on April 11th, one week prior to the general public (you need to be a FoLO member by April 1st, 2018 to participate in the FoLO pre-sale): https://www.ucolick.org/main/support/folo.html We hope to see you on the mountain this summer :-) UC Santa Cruz Visit San Jose Visit Santa Cruz University of California
UCSC Giving Day 2017 is just around the corner (March 8th) and here is "the crew" of undergraduate researchers with Prof. Ryan Foley who are asking for your support to conduct Gravitational Wave Research at Lick Observatory and improving the Nickel telescope operations on Mount Hamilton (including UC Observatories Director Prof. Claire Max in the front). #Give2UCSC #GravitationalWaves #UCSantaCruz #LickObservatory #NickelTelescope #ThankYouForYourSupport
Some impressions from yesterday's "Music of the Spheres" -- enjoy! #LickObservatory #SummerSeries #MusicOfTheSpheres #GoldenBough
Yesterday's sunset at Lick Observatory #SummerSeries #LickObservatory #UCObservatories #EveningWithTheStars #GloriousSunsets
The Tour of California Peloton races through the Observatory (along with myriad support vehicles). Video courtesy of Elinor Gates.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour flying piggy back over San Jose as seen from Lick Observatory at 10:20 this morning before heading over the Santa Cruz mountains to Monterey.
The Weather Channel asked Lick Observatory Staff Astronomer Dr. Paul Lynam for some solar eclipse safety tips this morning.
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