Invitation to VisitHoursMon - Fri: 12:30pm - 5:00pm Lick Observatory is open to daytime visitors nearly every day of the year. The Observatory is closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and at night after 5:00pm. We invite the public to view exhibits in the main Observatory building, built in 1888. Enjoy an informal talk about Lick history while taking a look at the Great Lick Refractor in the 36-inch telescope dome. These tours begin at the Gift Shop, on each half hour starting at 1:00pm on weekdays and 10:30am on weekends, continuing until 4:30pm. Each talk is about 15 minutes long, and there is no charge. While at the Gift Shop, check out the Lick Observatory sweatshirts, T-shirts, mugs, wineglasses, and astronomical photographs as well as posters, educational toys, and other astronomy-related goodies! Visitors are also invited to take a short walk to the Shane Dome to view the 120-inch Reflector from the Visitors’ Gallery. Displays explain the Shane reflector, one of the major telescopes used to discover planets outside of our solar system. If you'd like to take a peak at the view from the Observatory at this moment, check out our HamCam. PLEASE DO NOT VISIT AT NIGHTNight time visitors are discouraged for two reasons. First, the buildings are all locked and the astronomers are hard at work at the darkened telescopes, so there is nothing to see and nobody available to show you around. Second, we need to minimize any unnecessary lights around the observatory, since the telescopes require the darkest possible conditions in order to detect the very faint light from the celestial objects under study. Travel PreparedThe Observatory is more than 20 miles from downtown San Jose along Mt. Hamilton Road at an elevation of 4200 feet. The road follows a gradual grade laid out over a century ago for horses and carts. It has many sharp curves and is quite narrow in places. Keep in mind that at 4209 feet, weather on Mt. Hamilton may be cool and changable, so bring a sweater or coat. We do have wheelchair access to the main building from the back. There are no gasoline or food services at Mt. Hamilton or anywhere along the road outside of San Jose. During the winter the road may be closed temporarily due to snowfall. For current road closure information, visit the California Highway Information website and enter Hwy #130, or call The Lick Observatory Gift Shop at 408-274-5061 during business hours. Directions to Mt. HamiltonLick Observatory is located on the summit of Mt. Hamilton in the Diablo Range east of San Jose. To get there from Interstates 101, 280, 680, take Alum Rock Avenue exit from Interstate 680 north. Turn right onto Alum Rock Avenue. Take another right on Mt. Hamilton Road (California Route 130). Allow about one hour from San Jose, and please drive carefully as the road is good, but winding. From the east, take Interstate 580 west to Interstate 680 south. Then follow the directions above. Alternatively, you may take take California Route 130 to Mt. Hamilton from the east, but please allow about 1-3/4 hours from Interstate 5 to reach the Observatory. The road is long and winding, but well-maintained. Take the Patterson exit off Interstate 5, and go west on Puerto del Canyon Road (away from Patterson.) At the Junction Cafe, turn left to stay on California Route 130. Area map here courtesy of Mapquest Print-friendly area map (pdf) Print-friendly local map (pdf) For more details, call 408-274-5061, between 12:30 and 5:00 pm, or email giftshop@ucolick.org |
Bonestell Art ExhibitFor a limited time, Lick Observatory is hosting an exhibit of paintings by acclaimed artist Chesley Bonestell. The exhibit commemorates the hundredth anniversary of the event that inspired Bonestell's interest in space art. During the 1905 Summer Visitors Program, Bonestell was most impressed with the view of Saturn through the Clark 12-inch refractor. (This dome now houses the Nickel 40-inch reflector.) Bonestell painted a picture of Saturn as soon as he got home. He went on to produce a wide variety of astronomical paintings which in turn inspired his contemporaries to pursue careers in astronomy. The Bonestell exhibit is located in Lick Observatory's Main Building, and is open to the public during all business hours, including the Summer Visitors Program and Music of the Spheres concerts. Photo ExhibitMt. Hamilton photographer Laurie Hatch's photographs of Lick Observatory are now on permanent display in the gallery next to the Gift Shop in the Main Building. These stunning photos, formerly displayed in the main hallway, have been donated to the Observatory by the artist. A variety of Laurie's prints are also available for purchase in the Gift Shop. Special EventsSummer Visitors ProgramLick Observatory sponsors a Summer Visitors Program (SVP) , an opportunity for the public to view the heavens through two Lick telescopes. On six Friday and Saturday nights, a limited number of ticket-holders will enjoy a lecture by an astronomer followed by telescope viewing. The 2007 SVP is sold out. Sign up on our Mailing List to receive 2008 SVP information. Music of the SpheresMusic of the Spheres is a series of summer concerts followed by talks given by Lick Observatory astronomers and (weather permitting) viewing through a Lick telescope. Performances are held at Lick Observatory in the Great Hall of the Main Building, and the proceeds of the concerts benefit Lick Observatory's Visitors Program. Tickets are still available for 2007 concerts. View concert details or buy tickets online. Limited Number of Group Tours AvailableWhile the primary focus of Lick Observatory is scientific research, within our very limited budget and manpower resources, we are still able to offer occasional tours of the facility. It is our decision to maximize the effectiveness of these tours by limiting them to college astronomy classes, science teachers workshops, and professional societies. If you believe your group falls within these guidelines and you wish to arrange a tour, please contact the Office of the Director of UCO/Lick Observatory. Office of the Director Dome Safety Modification ProjectWe're continuing to work on renovating our 36-inch refracting telescope dome. When completed, this renovation will benefit Music of the Spheres Concert series and Summer Visitors Program:
We invite you to donate in any of the following ways:
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