Lick Observatory, Mt Hamilton

a110p0

Twenty miles on a twisty road east of San Jose, CA on top of Mt. Hamilton sits
the Lick Observatory.



There are several telescopes that are part of the observatory.
The largest is a 120" reflecting telescope housed in the large dome.



The sunset from Mt. Hamilton:



36" refracting telescope. Amazing that the observatory was built
in 1876. All the parts had to be carted up a winding road.
Another tid bit is that James Lick is buried beneath the dome
housing the 36" telescope.



Night falls over San Jose, CA and the South Bay:




Thanks for viewing my thread.

Alvin

PrevailingConditions

Alvin - thanks for sharing these shots. I've worked in the valley for too long yet have never made it up there. Great set of pictures.

Mike

a110p0

PrevailingConditions wrote: »

Alvin - thanks for sharing these shots. I've worked in the valley for too long yet have never made it up there. Great set of pictures.

Mike

Thanks Mike! When you have a free day, check it out.

Alvin

schmoo

Whoah awesome shots, Alvin! I have only been up there once and it was in the summer, so when we stuck around at nightfall some angry British astronomer yelled at us.

But I had forgotten about it until you posted, and it reminded me that there is a practical application of the sunset being around 5 PM these days. You got some great weather that day too!

Doug Solis

Great shots, looks like a fascinating place to spend some time.

ashrugged

nice series of shots.

a110p0

schmoo wrote: »

Whoah awesome shots, Alvin! I have only been up there once and it was in the summer, so when we stuck around at nightfall some angry British astronomer yelled at us.

But I had forgotten about it until you posted, and it reminded me that there is a practical application of the sunset being around 5 PM these days. You got some great weather that day too!

Thanks Schmoo. Agree, the great thing about the shorter days,
you can shoot the evening and still make it home at a reasonable
hour. We had amazing weather in the Bay Area last weekend.

Doug Solis wrote: »

Great shots, looks like a fasinating place to spend some time.

It's a pretty neat place, I'll go back, I want to explore some other
vantage points. Thanks Doug.

ashrugged wrote: »

nice series of shots.

Thanks ashrugged!


One thing that might be of interest for some, for the summer of 2011, the observatory
offers summer evening concerts and observation programs.

Alvin

Enlightphoto

There all very nicely done. I've only been up there once right after a snowstorm. Never got any nice one's of the observatory. Can appreciate more what you said re: the history, as I'd come across some of that info while researching for a book. Very nice to see such good images.

hawkeye978

Nice set. I really like the colors coming out in the sky in the last.

a110p0

Enlightphoto wrote: »

There all very nicely done. I've only been up there once right after a snowstorm. Never got any nice one's of the observatory. Can appreciate more what you said re: the history, as I'd come across some of that info while researching for a book. Very nice to see such good images.

Thanks Gary, very nice of you to comment. BTW, I enjoy your blog.
I read that the road to Mt. Hamilton doesn't exceed 6.5% grade to make
it possible for the horses and mules to be able to haul the construction
materials to the top, as a result the road is extra twisty.

BTW, I enjoy your blog.

hawkeye978 wrote: »

Nice set. I really like the colors coming out in the sky in the last.

Tom

Thanks Tom. The evening light that day was really nice.


Alvin

E Colby

Alvin,
Great series and thanks for the memories. I visited a number of times on field trips as a student when I was young. I grew up in Morgan Hill.
Cheers,
Colby

Thwack

Very nice captures! Thank you for sharing them.

schmoo

I'm posting again because pretty much ever since you put this thread up the weather in south bay has been cold, wet, cloudy and generally horrendous. I am so envious you caught such a beautiful sunset! :P

a110p0

E Colby wrote: »

Alvin,
Great series and thanks for the memories. I visited a number of times on field trips as a student when I was young. I grew up in Morgan Hill.
Cheers,
Colby

Colby, I'm glad it brought back some nice memories of field trips
past. I used to love going on field trips when I was in elementary
school.

Thwack wrote: »

Very nice captures! Thank you for sharing them.

Thanks Thwack for your nice comments.

schmoo wrote: »

I'm posting again because pretty much ever since you put this thread up the weather in south bay has been cold, wet, cloudy and generally horrendous. I am so envious you caught such a beautiful sunset! :P

Schmoo, I feel very fortunate to have had the time to drive up there
on the last good weather weekend this month. I'm sure they must
have a dusting of snow now.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Cheers!
Alvin

ian408

They did get a bit of snow last week.

I can only think the car headlights were somehow interfering with your favorite British astronomer Schmoo.

Alvin, looks like you had a great time up on Hammy. It's amazing to me that Lick Observatory is still the hotbed for the planet finders even when so many more powerful and modern 'scopes exist. Amazing place!

tisun

Alvin,

Thanks for posting. Is Mt. Hamilton accessible after dark? I pedaled my bike up there once, but it was during the day.

Anthony

ian408

Do you mean can you drive up there after dark? Sure. But you won't get the tour or be able to go into the building unless there's an event going on.

Just a piece of advice, as the sun sets, Mt. Hamilton gets cold on top.

a110p0

ian408 wrote: »

They did get a bit of snow last week.

I can only think the car headlights were somehow interfering with your favorite British astronomer Schmoo.

Alvin, looks like you had a great time up on Hammy. It's amazing to me that Lick Observatory is still the hotbed for the planet finders even when so many more powerful and modern 'scopes exist. Amazing place!

Thanks for commenting Ian, I had a great time up there. Agree that
it still is actively used for research especially being so close to
San Jose.

tisun wrote: »

Alvin,

Thanks for posting. Is Mt. Hamilton accessible after dark? I pedaled my bike up there once, but it was during the day.

Anthony

ian408 wrote: »

Do you mean can you drive up there after dark? Sure. But you won't get the tour or be able to go into the building unless there's an event going on.

Just a piece of advice, as the sun sets, Mt. Hamilton gets cold on top.

Anthony, Ian answered your question. You can drive up there at
night, though according to their website, they prefer you not to visit
at night.

Alvin

tisun

Ian and Alvin,

Thanks. Perhaps, it probably was their "PLEASE DO NOT VISIT AT NIGHT" request that deterred me.

Anthony

a110p0

tisun wrote: »

Ian and Alvin,

Thanks. Perhaps, it probably was their "PLEASE DO NOT VISIT AT NIGHT" request that deterred me.

Anthony

I hung out after dark, after the folks who run the visitor center left, I didn't
see anyone out there. They are probably busy doing research. I don't think
they'd like people using high powered spotlights though.

Alvin

ian408

a110p0 wrote: »

I hung out after dark, after the folks who run the visitor center left, I didn't
see anyone out there. They are probably busy doing research. I don't think
they'd like people using high powered spotlights though.

Alvin

I think if you follow guidelines similar to those of a star party which means dousing the headlights and using red lens flashlights if you must, you'd be considered a "polite visitor"

It helps to know the road to the observatory as well. You can switch to running lights before you crest the top or as you're leaving.

Google "star party" and you'll find plenty of tips--and you might discover a night of star gazing in your future

GOLDENORFE

very nice, prefer #1 actually!

do you think that scope be any good for shooting bugs

phil

a110p0

GOLDENORFE wrote: »

very nice, prefer #1 actually!

do you think that scope be any good for shooting bugs

phil

Thanks Phil.

Maybe the scope would be good for shooting
extraterrestrial bugs.

:s85

Alpha_Plus

Great shots!! I love number 3. Such a good subject!