Lick Observatory

07/21/2026

Come to the Exploratorium later this week to learn about Life in Space! Engage in an activity about telescopes and optics designed by a team of astronomy graduate students through the Professional Development Program led by UC Observatories (including Lick Observatory) and the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators. Our activity will be running this Thursday evening 7/23 at the Exploratorium’s After Dark event (6:30-9:30pm) as well as on Saturday 7/25 and Sunday 7/26 from 11am to 4pm.

07/21/2026

Come to the Exploratorium later this week to learn about Life in Space! Engage in an activity about telescopes and optics designed by a team of astronomy graduate students through the Professional Development Program led by UC Observatories (including Lick Observatory) and the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators. Our activity will be running this Thursday evening 7/23 at the Exploratorium’s After Dark event (6:30-9:30pm) as well as on Saturday 7/25 and Sunday 7/26 from 11am to 4pm.

Explore the science of how to survive living in space.

06/17/2026

A California Condor flew over Lick Observatory this afternoon, before flying off to the southwest. In the photo it is the larger bird with white triangles on the underwings, flying over the 36" Refractor Telescope Dome. The smaller bird (only slightly more distant) is a Turkey Vulture. Photo is courtesy of Elinor Gates, who looked up the tag number of the condor (red tag, white underlined number 75), which indicates it is Condor 1175, male wild hatched on May 27, 2022.

06/12/2026

For generations, Lick Observatory has served as a launching pad for brilliant minds in astronomy. Today, the scientists who trained on our mountain early in their careers are scattered across the globe, pushing boundaries and setting new standards in their respective fields. We couldn't be prouder of the incredible impact our alumni are making on world science! Read about the first featured astronomer Debra Fisher in this series of interviews.

Astronomers who trained at Lick Observatory early in their careers are now scattered across the globe, setting new standards in their fields. Lick Observatory: Behind the Telescopes by Kaia Glickman To launch a new series of conversations, science writing intern Kaia Glickman reached out to one of L...

06/10/2026

TODAY IS THE DAY!
The wait is over—tickets for our exclusive Lick Observatory After Hours tickets go ON SALE TODAY at NOON (PDT)! 🌌✨

While our historic Main Building is resting and undergoing repairs from the Christmas wind storm, the mountain is open to the skies, and the universe is yours to explore. We’ve designed a special, behind-the-scenes summit experience for you.

Here is what’s waiting for you on Mt. Hamilton this summer:

🚶‍♂️ The Eastside Trek: A guided walk through the eastern areas of the observatory grounds.

🔭 The Giant: An exclusive, up-close look at the massive, iconic Shane Telescope.

⏳ A Journey Through Time: A fascinating live history lecture from our experts as twilight falls.

🌌 Cosmos Firsthand: Deep-sky stargazing through our high-powered, expert-led portable telescope stations.

Space is strictly limited for these intimate evening tours, and they will sell out fast.

⏰ Set your alarms for 12:00 PM PDT! 🎟️ Get your tickets today! https://www.eventbrite.com/o/lick-observatory-74641084603

The 46th Annual Summer Series Lick Observatory, perched on Mount Hamilton, is one of the nation's oldest research observatories – home to historic telescopes, active research instruments making groundbreaking astronomical discoveries, and public programs that connect visitors with the night sky. A...

06/10/2026

05/21/2026

We’re delighted that Alex received this well-deserved award 👏. He’s a devoted supporter of our observatory, and we’re honored to be part of his important work.

By clarifying the differences among various types of exploding stars, Filippenko enabled them to be used to measure the expansion of the universe.

05/15/2026

Our sister Observatory is hosting us for a kick off celebration of a special anniversary year for Lick Observatory! We hope you can come and catch up with us at Chabot Space & Science Center

Celebrate Lick Observatory’s 150th Anniversary at Chabot Space & Science Center!

On June 7, 2026 — 150 years after the Act of Congress that granted the top of Mt. Hamilton as the site for the University of California’s Lick Observatory — join us to honor the legacy of James Lick’s visionary gift to fund what became the world’s largest telescope at the time.

The evening features a Planetarium presentation by Alex Filippenko, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley: “Research, Technology, and Education at Lick Observatory, and its Shared History with Chabot.” This will be followed by a light reception and telescope viewing (weather permitting) through Chabot’s three historic telescopes.

05/15/2026

Stand Above the Clouds
While our historic Main Building is taking a breather for recovery, the view from the top remains impressive!
The Shane Telescope Gallery is open and waiting to show you why Mount Hamilton is known as an "Island in the Sky." Come up for the 360-degree views of the Sierras and the Bay—stay for the awe-inspiring engineering of our 3-meter telescope.
What’s Open:
✅ East Grounds & Shane Gallery (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
✅ The Gift Shop (Visit us in our temporary home at The Historic Dining Hall)
❌ Note: The Main Building and West Peaks remain closed to the public.
Pack your snacks and warm clothes, grab your camera, and come see the "Window to California." Make sure your car has a full charge or plenty of gasoline! Click the link to get more info.

https://lick.science.ucsc.edu/public-visitor-information/lick-observatory-visit-the-shane-telescope/

Pic by Laurie Hatch

04/02/2026

Did you feel it? This morning, at 1:41 am, an earthquake shook the Santa Cruz and Bay Areas. Originally estimated at 5.1 magnitude, it has been revised downward to 4.9 mag, and revised again to 4.6 mag, according to the USGS Earthquake website. Some Lick Observatory staff woke up to the shaking, while others slept through it. The Lick staff and astronomers will inspect the facilities and telescopes today to ensure that everything is undamaged and ready for science tonight. Lick Observatory has been monitoring earthquakes since the 1880s as part of the Berkeley seismograph network. The image below shows this morning's earthquake, visible as the red area, on the Lick Observatory seismograph.