June 8, 2018
8:30 p.m.
Prof. Raja GuhaThakurta, UC Santa Cruz
"Galaxies, Dark Matter, Cannibalism, Gravitational Waves, and Black Holes"
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Prof. Raja GuhaThakurta
Raja GuhaThakurta's research is focused on the formation and evolution of galaxies – specifically, their accretion/cannibalism history, dark matter content, chemical enrichment, and star formation history. One approach is the study of the local "fossil record." Our group at UCSC led the SPLASH survey of red giant stars in our closest large neighbor Andromeda (M31) and its dwarf satellites using the Keck II 10-m telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph. SPLASH includes the spectroscopic supplement to PHAT, the HST multi-cycle treasury survey of M31. We also lead the ongoing HALO7D survey, which involves very deep Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy and HST-based proper motions of stars in the Milky Way's outer halo, and the spectroscopic components of the PISCeS survey of nearby galaxy groups and the NGVS survey of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. A second approach is based on "direct look-back" to distant galaxies. With colleagues Faber and Koo at UCSC and Conroy at Harvard, we have obtained very deep spectra of distant galaxies in the CANDELS fields as part of HALO7D. The same group was part of the UC-led DEEP2, DEEP3, and multi-wavelength (Chandra, GALEX, HST, Spitzer, VLA, etc.) AEGIS survey of distant galaxies. Other research interests include interstellar dust grains and their interaction with radiation, and the stellar populations and chemical abundance of globular clusters. Dr. Raja GuhaThakurta is also founder of the very successful Science Internship Program SIP at UC Santa Cruz for High School Students and a co-founder of Global SPHERE Network.
Program Information
| 7:30 p.m. | Doors Open | Brief Telescope Visits |
| 8:30 p.m. | Science Talk, Lecture Hall | History Talk, Lecture Hall |
| 9:30 p.m. | Science Talk (repeated), Lecture Hall | Telescope Viewings |
| 10:30 p.m. | History Talk (repeated), Great Refractor | Telescope Viewings |
| 1:00 a.m. | Doors Close |
Ticket Information
General admission: $ 25.00 per person (ages 8 and older).
Tickets are non-refundable. Limit of four tickets per customer. Please be advised that unpredictable weather patterns may restrict telescope viewings, though lectures and other activities will still take place. Due to safety regulations and the nature of the event, children under age 8 are not allowed at this event, and it may be unsuitable for children under the age of 12 due to late hours.
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 at www.ucsctickets.com
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 age 8 are not allowed at this event, and it may be unsuitable for children under the age of 12 due to late hours.
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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