Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Sept 1, 2006 0:09:50 GMT -6
Lick Observatory Expedition
On August 19th, I found myself in Santa Clara for a few days, so I called Rajasi and we decided to visit the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, about 45 minutes east of San Jose.
After a short drive into the foothills, we had a half hour of switchbacks before we reached the summit of Mt. Hamilton. I used to live in the Colorado Rockies, so I didn’t mind the drive, but Rajasi was sitting on the “white knuckle” side of the car and figured that this drive was going to be a tough one for her to get used to, if her upcoming astrophysics studies took her here.
Hearing a tour in progress, we trotted down the corridor to the historic 36” Refractor.
Built a decade before the 40” at Yerkes, this was the world’s biggest in 1888. James Lick, the philanthropist who funded it, is buried at the site under the telescope that bears his name. The circular floor rises and descends through approximately seventeen feet to follow the eyepiece of the 58-foot-long telescope tube. The 36-inch was prominent in the study of double stars. Thousands of pairs have been discovered with this telescope, many by pioneer observer Burnham.
After determining that the Nickel 40” reflecting telescope in the main building was not open that day, we visited the store, where Cece showed us pictures of the site in winter, practically buried in snow.
Then it was out the door for a picture of us in front of the 36” scope from the Garden. I couldn’t find anyone to take our picture, so we took each other’s picture and I combined them in photoshop. Tada!
Then we took a hike to the biggest of Mt. Hamilton’s 19 telescopes, the 200 inch reflector.
We were amazed at the massive size of the instrument.
Like the 36” This scope does a lot of spectragraphic studies. See diagram.
While we were there, a worker used a forklift to install some equipment on the scope.
Apparently every scope on the site is booked every night of the year that has clear skies. Like a lot of other sites, you have to submit a proposal to get access to them.
BTW, a quick search on “Lick Observatory” will find you lots more information about the site, its history and telescopes.
It was a great afternoon and a pleasure to see Rajasi again. We sure will miss her out in San Francisco. I can’t wait to see her name on a comet or some other area of research!
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Steveo...
A great narrative and associated pics with your trip to the Great Lick Observatory. I have alays wanted to do a grand tour of observatories and publish a book...but I'm sure that has already been done.
Thanks for sharing your trip and experience with our Gothic Astronomer, Rajasi. I have an agreement with Rajasi that when she becomes a world famous astronomer, that she will hire me to put away the eyepieces and sweep up the observatory.
Got to get in on the ground floor... ;D