June 9, 2018
8:30 p.m.
Performer: Black Cedar
Astronomy Speaker: Prof. Tucker Jones, UC Davis
Concert Information
Black Cedar
Black Cedar’s accolades include multiple grants from the Zellerbach Family Foundation and the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, plus an invite to the National Flute Association Convention. Their recently released debut album "A Path Less Trod" has earned critical praise, with Stephen Smoliar’s The Rehearsal Studio blog writing: “While the instrumentation is unconventional, it is surprisingly effective ... Black Cedar is particularly effective for the rhetoric of intimacy they establish … an intimacy evident in the strategic command of understatement one encounters in the performances on this new album.” The trio’s commissions include Ursula Kwong-Brown’s In Transit (2017), Mark Fish’ The Devil Inside (2016), Miscellaneous Music (2015) by Bay Area composer Durwynne Hsieh and Of Emblems (2014) by San Francisco’s Garrett Shatzer. Since their inception in 2013, Black Cedar has performed almost 60 concerts throughout California, and they’ve appeared repeatedly on KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco, KKUP 91.5 FM in San Jose, and KWMR 90.5 FM in Marin County. “Hats off to them!” writes the Santa Cruz Sentinel. “Black Cedar has done a wonderful job of making the case that chamber music can involve approaches to instrumentation not usually expected,” says the San Francisco Examiner. Visit www.blackcedar.biz for more information.
Lecture Information
Asst. Prof. Tucker Jones
"Focusing the distant universe with gravitational lensing"
Tucker Jones is an astronomer at the University of California at Davis. Prof. Jones received his PhD degree in Astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology.
He subsequently held fellowships at the University of California, Santa Barbara and at the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy. Since moving to Davis he has done less surfing, more skiing, and a lot of science. His research is focused on understanding how galaxies form and evolve throughout the history of the universe, and the impact of galaxies on their surroundings. This involves a range of interesting astrophysical phenomena such as the formation of spiral disks, generation of heavy elements, and powerful galactic winds. Most of his work is based on observations of distant galaxies collected with large telescopes on the ground and in space.
Ticket Information
Join Friends of Lick Observatory (FoLO) and Get Tickets Early
If you'd like to purchase tickets as early as noon on April 11th, 2018, join our Friends of Lick Observatory (FoLO) program by April 1st, 2018. As a thank you for supporting the observatory, you'll get special access to purchase tickets before they go on sale for the general public on April 18th at noon.
Ticket Packages
General Admission: $45
Ticket includes concert seating, astronomy lecture, view through the Great Refractor telescope, view through the Nickel Telescope and souvenir wine glass or mug.
Preferred Guest: $90
Ticket includes preferred concert seating, astronomy lecture, preferred viewing through the Great Refractor telescope, preferred viewing through the Nickel Telescope, souvenir wine glass or mug, 20% discount at the gift shop.
VIP: $199
Ticket includes private group tour of the Shane Telescope before the concert, catered buffet dinner with wine in our historic Dining Hall, front center concert seating, astronomy lecture, priority viewing through the 36-inch Great Refractor, priority viewing through the 40-inch Nickel Telescope, souvenir wine glass or mug and 20% Discount at our gift shop.
More Ticket Information
Due to the historic construction of the telescope domes and safety concerns, the 36-inch Great Refractor Telescope and the 40-inch Nickel Telescope are not wheelchair accessible at this time. Those who have difficulty navigating stairs may also find the telescopes inaccessible. Funds are being raised through the Friends of Lick Observatory to repair the elevating floor of the Lick 36-inch telescope to re-enable handicap access.
Tickets are non-refundable. Limit of four tickets per customer. Please be advised that unpredictable weather patterns may restrict telescope viewings, though lectures, concerts and other activities will still take place.
Please note: Due to safety regulations and the nature of the event, children must be at least 12 years of age for admission and accompanied by an adult.
Program Information
| 7:30 p.m. | Doors Open | Brief Telescope Visits |
| 8:30 p.m. | Concert, Main Hall | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Science Talk, Lecture Hall | Telescope Viewings |
| 10:30 p.m. | Science Talk (repeated), Lecture Hall | Telescope Viewings |
| 1:00 a.m. | Doors Close |
Driving to Lick Observatory
Please allow a one-hour drive from San Jose. The rood is good, but windy. The event typically lasts between 4 and 6 hours; prepare to drive home late in the evening. There are no automative services or gas stations for 20 miles, so please plan ahead. See more information on driving directions and parking here.
Recommended Attire
Casual, comfortable clothing and walking shoes. A sweater or light coat is recommended.
Safety
Please be careful when walking around in the dark outside; bringing a flashlight is recommended. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed at this event.
Telescopes
The large telescopes will be available for viewing as soon as the sky is dark. Telescopes will remain open until every guest has had an opportunity to see through both the 36-inch Great Refractor and the 40-inch Nickel Telescope.
In order to view through the telescopes, guests will receive a numbered pass at the door. Guests with the lowest telescope numbers are admitted to the telescopes first - so we recommend getting to the observatory early! Please note: Due to historic construction of the telescope domes, the 36-inch Refractor and the 40-inch Nickel Telescope are not wheelchair accessible at this time.
Volunteer amateur astronomers also set up ground telescopes in the back parking so guests can view additional cosmic objects.
Gift Shop
Lick Observatory souvenirs and astronomy merchandise will be available for purchase between 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. You can also visit our Gift Shop online 24/7.
Refreshments
Snacks and beverages will be available near the Nickel Telescope. Vending machines and fountain water are also available.
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), so we can make the necessary arrangements.
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