Our staff are still fully engaged in recovery efforts due to the SCU Lightning Complex Fire. Lick Observatory remains CLOSED to the public. For at least the next four weeks CalTrans will be busy working on Mount Hamilton Road with heavy equipment removing fire damaged trees, brush, and restoring the damaged road.
It’s really important that we keep the roads clear. PLEASE DO NOT try to enter the area whilst fire recovery efforts are in progress. As soon as it’s safe we will post to our social networks. We look forward to inviting you back at that time. You can donate to our recovery effort here: connect.ucsc.edu/ucodirectorfund - Thanks for all your support.
Lick Observatory is located on the summit of Mount Hamilton, California, roughly 20 miles east of San Jose. The Visitor Center is currently closed due to COVID precautions and regulations.
As we work on plans to get Lick back into operation we want to share its important historical significance.
"Lick Observatory's first electric generator was donated by Thomas Edison. Edwin Hubble visited, as did President Benjamin Harrison, and Winston Churchill."
Director Claire Max talks about the wildfires impact on Lick Observatory. Superintendent Kostas Chloros on Mt. Hamilton staff joined her to help provide updates on known damage and potential future repair/science timelines and priorities.
Observations obtained at Lick Observatory and the W. M. Keck Observatory, led by astronomers at UC Santa Cruz now provide clear evidence that debris from the star forms a rotating disk, called an accretion disk, around the black hole. Read more here.
The state’s apocalyptic blazes have burned 2,000 square miles in 10 days. Here’s how they almost claimed a 130-year-old astronomical icon. Read more here.
If you make a gift of $50+ to support the Lick Wildfire Relief Efforts before January 1, you will receive a complimentary year membership to Friends of Lick Observatory (FoLO).
AND for the next two weeks (until Dec. 15), the Friends of Lick Observatory membership gift shop discount will be increased to 20%, just in time for holiday shopping! (Members will receive your discount code this week).
Thank you again for your support of the UC Observatories--preserving history and advancing scientific research.
Warmest regards,
UC Observatories
Lick Observatory was founded thanks to James Lick, an eccentric California millionaire who dreamed of building a "telescope superior to and more powerful than any telescope yet made." What followed was the famous Great Refractor, a feat of engineering and the largest refracting telescope in the world when it was completed in 1888.
Today, Lick serves as an active research facility for astronomers from eight UC astronomy campuses and two national laboratories. At any given time, over 100 observers are pursuing science programs at Lick Observatory.
Learn MoreThe Friends of Lick Observatory (FoLO) membership program offers members an opportunity to participate in the Lick community and enjoy special connections with the telescopes, scientists, and science programs.Benefits include:
Since the time of Galileo, astronomy research worldwide has benefited greatly by generous philanthropic support.
For 129 years, Lick Observatory has defined the cutting edge of astronomical research, technological development and public education. Our paramount goal is to continue these pursuits for decades to come. Help us continue our goal and donate today!
Give NowAll gifts are processed through the UC Santa Cruz Foundation. Thank you.
Gravitational waves are spectacular ripples through the fabric of space-time originally predicted by Einstein a century ago and finally detected just last year. This discovery is a watershed event for our understanding of the Universe. But we still have so much to do! The next step is detecting light associated with gravitational waves. Our team of undergraduate researchers are performing this search with the Anna L. Nickel telescope at Lick Observatory. This is a unique opportunity for students to participate in cutting-edge research in physics and astronomy. Funding for this project will directly support undergraduate students. We will also upgrade the Nickel operations, increasing our chances of making the next big discovery!
May 26, 2016
Thanks to our amazing friends and supporters, we reached our fundraising goal for the installation of a self-guided educational walking tour at Lick Observatory. In just 24 hours, we exceeded our $10,000 match to raise $20,455 from 89 gifts as part of the UC Santa Cruz Giving Day.
We're hard at work designing the new walking tour. Here are the benefits to come:
For 129 years, Lick Observatory has defined the cutting edge of astronomical research, technological development and public education. Our paramount goal is to continue these pursuits now and well into the future.
Stay tuned for more exciting information about Lick Observatory. Thank YOU for your support.
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