2024 Summer Series Public Events have been scheduled! Tickets go on sale on Wednesday April 17th at Noon!
Event Information

Tonight’s Host: Dr. Paul Lynam

7:00 pm Doors Open Brief Telescope Visits
8:00 pm Concert
9:00 pm Science Talk, Lecture Hall Telescope Viewings
10:00 pm Science Talk (repeated), Lecture Hall Telescope Viewings
12:30 am  Doors Close

This Evening’s Events

Concert

Melody of China

Melody of China brings the music of nature to the Music of the Spheres.

Sounds of nature abound in the lively folk, regional, and classic melodies that Melody of China musicians perform on traditional instruments.

Returning to the Music of the Spheres are director Yangqin Zhao, playing the yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) – the instrument she was named for – and her sister, Gangqin Zhao, playing the guzheng (plucked zither) and percussion. Joining the ensemble is noted musician Thomas Lee, master of the 2-string bowed instruments, the Chinese erhu and gaohu.

With stellar musicianship and camaraderie, Melody of China adds a delightful musical interlude to the Lick Observatory night of galaxy gazing.

Based in San Francisco, Melody of China is California’s award-winning premiere Chinese music company, featuring small to large ensembles of conservatory-trained musicians, who perform for theaters, festivals, and special event audiences. MelodyofChina.org

Science Lecture

(presented twice)

Dr. Claire Poppett
Dr. Claire Poppett

University of California, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory

“Dark Energy – How to observe the invisible”

Dr. Claire Poppett is a researcher in astrophysics at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory who specializes in Astronomical Instrumentation. She is particularly motivated to research and develop new technical solutions that are necessary to build the next generation of astronomical instruments in order to answer the big questions about our universe. Claire studied at Durham University in the UK before moving to Berkeley, CA. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, climbing, and any other activity that involves being outside, especially when it includes being with her two young children.

Tonight’s Telescopes & Objects

36-inch Lick Refractor. Photo (c) Laurie Hatch.

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.

Nickel 1-m Telescope. Photo (c) Laurie Hatch.

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 6543, the Cat’s Eye planetary nebula, in the constellation Draco.

Telescope Operators:

36-inch Great Refractor

Rolf Weber | Thomas Kelley

40-inch Reflector

Pat Maloney

40-inch Control Room

Evan Carrasco

Telescopes will be available for viewing, weather conditions permitting, as soon as it is dark enough and will remain open until everyone has had an opportunity to see through both telescopes.

Share tonight’s experience on Social Media: #LickObservatory @LickObservatory

Additional Viewing Opportunities – Weather Permitting

Amateur astronomers have telescopes set up behind the main building. They will enjoy showing you other objects in the sky.

The Gift Shop is open tonight from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm.

Refreshments

Snacks and beverages are available at the refreshment table in the main foyer. All proceeds help support the public programs. In the past, we have used proceeds to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), additional wooden benches in the main building, new speakers and amplifiers for the main building hallway, and partial funding of two spotting telescopes by the flag pole.

Dark Adjustment

Your experience at the telescopes will be better if your eyes have had an opportunity to adjust to the dark. For this reason, we try to keep the light levels low in both wings of the main hall.

Lights

Please refrain from use of flash photography or white light flashlights in the domes or adjoining hallway.

Assistance

We strive to make your visit as complete and meaningful as possible. Please let us know if you will need special assistance (for example, if you will have difficulty climbing stairs) by emailing tickets@ucolick.org, so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Our Volunteers

All of Lick Observatory’s public programs are greatly enhanced by the valuable participation of our many dedicated volunteers.

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