Tonight’s Host: Dr. Jon Rees

This Evening’s Lectures

Science Lecture

(presented twice)

Dr. X Prochaska

University of California, Santa Cruz

“How to Weigh the Universe in Three Easy Steps”

Dr. J. Xavier Prochaska is Astronomer and Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the UC Observatories and UC Santa Cruz.  His research examines the nature of gas both within and outside of galaxies, primarily during the first few billion years of the universe.  The analysis relies on high resolution spectroscopy of distant, intrinsically bright sources (quasars, gamma-ray bursts).  In this manner, the absence of light is used to study the metallicity, molecular fraction, depletion, ionization state, and velocity fields of gas in the young universe.

History Lecture

(1st presentation)

Eric Bricmont

Eric Bricmont is a long-time volunteer at Lick Observatory, amateur astronomer and photographer. His devotion and passion for science is equaled only by his love of history. In addition to his time at the Observatory he also is an active volunteer with the Santa Clara County Parks, helping to provide monthly astronomy programs to the public.

History Lecture

(2nd presentation)

Ron Bricmont

Ron Bricmont has been an observatory guide since 1991 and a coordinator of the Observatory’s volunteer program since its inception in 1997. He is a member of the staff of the Lick Observatory Historical Collections Project. Ron’s life-long interest in Lick Observatory and its history began with his first visit to the observatory as a six-year-old in 1945.

Tonight’s Telescopes & Objects

Lick Observatory’s 36-inch Great Refractor saw “first light” in 1888. At the time, it was the largest refractor telescope in the world. It is an enduring memorial to James Lick’s philanthropy and his final resting place.

For nearly 300 years after Galileo first turned a telescope toward the heavens it was believed that the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, had just four moons. In 1892, using the Lick’s 36-inch Great Refractor, Edward Barnard discovered a fifth moon, the much fainter Amalthea, the last moon of any planet to be discovered without the aid of photography, electronic detectors or space-based telescopes.

The 36-inch telescope will show you an interesting astronomical object of the telescope operator’s choosing. This may be a globular cluster of stars, a binary star, or a galaxy.

The Nickel 40-inch Reflector, named for philanthropist Anna Nickel, was designed and built in the Lick Observatory Technical Facilities at UC Santa Cruz and completed in 1979. The 40” diameter mirror of this modern telescope makes it the third most powerful telescope on Mount Hamilton.

Tonight you will view NGC 7331, a galaxy in the constellation Pegasus.

Telescope Operators:

36-inch Great Refractor

Tanja Bode | Bob Havner

40-inch Reflector

Andy Macica

40-inch Control Room

Monique Windju