P. D. Lynam  

Schedule

2013-12-31:

Firefighters contain 40 acre blaze on Mt Hamilton: Video.

2013-12-24:

Visit to space shuttle Endeavour at California Science Center: Image.

2013-12-20:

Response To News On Lick Observatory to the Friends of Lick Observatory: Article.

2013-12-13:

Lick Observatory In Trouble As Austerity Starts To Bite: Article.

2013-12-05:

Witness launch of Atlas V, NROL-39 from Vandenberg AFB: Video.

2013-11-09:

Public Outreach: Tour of Lick Observatory: Friends of Lick Observatory Board.

2013-10-24--2013-10-28:

Teaching: C. Donald and Mary Lea Shane Observational Astronomy Workshop³.

• Image: 2013 Shane Workshop Participants.
• Image: 2013 Shane Workshop Participants.
• Image: 2013 Shane Workshop Participants.
• Image: 2013 Observational Astronomy Workshop Discussing the Crossley Telescope.
• Image: Discussing the Shane Telescope.
• Image: Discussing the Shane Telescope.
• Image: Discussing the Shane Telescope.
• Image: Discussing the Shane Telescope.
• Image: Discussing the Shane Telescope.
• Image: Introducing the Shane Workshop.
• Image: Observation Planning.
• Image: Observation Planning.
• Image: Observation Planning.

2013-10-22:

Teaching: Tour of Lick Observatory: Google.

2013-10-10:

Public Outreach: Tour of Lick Observatory: Advanced Imaging Conference⁴.

2013-10-05:

Public Outreach: Volunteer Appreciation Night: Lick Observatory.

2013-09-28:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Music Of The Spheres (MoS): Host.

2013-09-27:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Summer Visitor Program (SVP, M57): Host and Operating 36 inch Great Lick Refractor.

2013-09-16:

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) writes to the Directorship of the University of California Observatories (UCO) informing of UCOP requirments:

• To place Lick Observatory on a glide path of funding for two years to a final state with no funding from UCOP in financial year 2018-2019.
• For Lick Observatory to become a self-sustaining organization managed by an entity other than UCO without UCOP or UCO funding.

This communication caused widespread distress throughout the worldwide astronomical community, the UC community and the people of California. It triggered initiatives such as the Save Lick campaign.

These requirements were rescinded in a 2014-10-29 letter from UCOP to the UCO Directorship.

2013-09-13:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Summer Visitor Program (SVP, N7009): Host and Operating 36 inch Great Lick Refractor.

2013-09-04:

Observing: Multicolour CCD observations of globular clusters, with the Nickel 1.0m telescope, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton.

2013-08-12:

Public Outreach: Tour of Lick Observatory: Private Tour.

2013-08-10:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Music Of The Spheres (MoS): Host.

2013-08-09:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Summer Visitor Program (SVP, M27): Operating 36 inch Great Lick Refractor.

2013-08-08--2013-08-09:

Teaching: Lick Observatory Teacher Institute.

2013-08-02:

Teaching: Tour of Lick Observatory: UCD REU.

2013-07-27:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Music Of The Spheres (MoS): Host.

2013-07-15:

Teaching: Tour of Lick Observatory: UCD COSMOS.

2013-07-12:

Public Outreach: Lick Observatory Summer Visitor Program (SVP, M10): Host.

2013-07-10:

Public Outreach: Tour of Lick Observatory: NASA Ames Academies. Feedback.

2013-07-03:

Mountain Lion: First personal encounter. Walking home along Mt Hamilton Road from the Shane Telescope at 02:30 in the morning, no more than 20 metres ahead, there were 2 eyes reflected in my torch light which disappeared as a Mountain Lion stopped looking in my direction and U-turned. The sandy coloured hind quarters and lifted tail appeared in the torch beam as it departed almost like the back of a big labrador. It was a very brief glimpse as the animal returned to nearby thickets, followed by the sounds of bushes and trees being disturbed in the dark as it retreated, after which I was unable to determine exactly where it was or how fast it was moving.

2013-07-02:

Observing: Viewing with the eyepiece at the Shane Telescope.

2013-06-29:

Public Outreach: Music Of The Spheres (MoS, M12): Operating 36 inch Great Lick Refractor.

2013-06-27:

Teaching: Tour of Lick Observatory: UCSC, SCIPP.

2013-06-12:

Teaching: Tour of Lick Observatory: ICOLS 2013².

2013-06-08:

Public Outreach: Volunteer Orientation Night: Lick Observatory.

2013-06-06:

Observing: Multicolour CCD observations of globular cluster Messier 3, with the Nickel 1.0m telescope, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton.

2013-06-05:

North American Bald Eagle visits Kepler Peak, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton. Image: North American Bald Eagle.

2013-06-01:

Public Outreach: Commemorating 125 years of Lick Observatory.

2013-05-27:

Western Tanagers visit Kepler Peak, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton. Image: Western Tanager.

2013-05-15:

Teaching: Tour of Lick Observatory: UCSC.

2013-05-13:

Lazuli Bunting visits Kepler Peak, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton. Image: Lazuli Bunting.

2013-05-03:

Public Outreach: Tour of Lick Observatory: Hartnell College.

2013-04-27:

Public Outreach: Tour of Lick Observatory: UCSC Alumni.

2013-04-09--2013-04-24:

Overseas.

2013-03-09--2013-03-14:

Binocular observations of Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS from Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton.

2013-02-23:

Daytime photograph of Bobcat on Kepler Peak, Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton. Image: Bobcat.

2013-02-11:

Nighttime photograph of Mountain Lion at the Gate of Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton. Image: Mountain Lion.

2013-01-11:

Daytime photograph of Mountain Lion on Mount Hamilton. Image: Mountain Lion. Article: Mountain lion just miles from downtown San Jose photographed by automatic camera.

2013-01-03:

Public Outreach: Commemorating 125 years of the Great Lick Refractor. Image: Volunteers, guests and staff commemorating 125 years of the Great Lick Refractor.

On the evening of 3rd January 1888 the Great Lick Refractor --- with an aperture diameter of 36 inches, "a telescope superior to any yet made" --- was used to observe the night sky for the first time. With this debut, referred to as "First Light", California was endowed with what was to remain the World's premier astronomical observatory well into the 20th century.

125 years later, during the evening of 3rd January 2013 staff, volunteers and guests commemorated the anniversary by re-observing the original first light object with the telescope: the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus, the red giant star known as Aldebaran. Additional objects of interest were added to the observing program including Jupiter, the famous diffuse Orion nebula, the Eskimo planetary nebula in Gemini and the Messier 77 barred spiral galaxy in Cetus.

Prior to opening the dome to commence the 126th year of observing, Lick volunteer Ron Bricmont seated in the observer's chair, assisted by staff member Michele Redel, read a passage from the authoritative book on Lick Observatory's first century "Eye On The Sky" describing the events of that first night.

This special evening served to recognize one of the most significant and inspirational scientific endeavours ever undertaken, to demonstrate the telescope's continuous operation, to acknowledge the telescope's contributions and James Lick's legacy to the state of California and the World.

2013-01-01--2013-12-31:

Year Planners¹ available in pdf format.

References