Lick Observer The Newsletter of Winter 2014

UC Confirms Support of Lick Observatory p.6

Upgrade for the Kast Spectrograph p.8

The Automated Planet Finder’s First Year p.12

ucolick.org 1 COVER PHOTO by Jim Katzman Indeed we see the Lick, Keck, and Thirty Meter Telescope CONTENTS Observatories as an THE LICK OBSERVER integrated ecosystem that can together From the Director’s Desk 4 maintain and grow Letter from UC Observatories Interim Director Claire Max UC’s leadership in astronomy.” UC Supports Lick Observatory 6 A previous decision to pull funding from Lick Observatory is rescinded.

-UC Provost A Strategic Plan For Lick 7 Aimee Dorr The Lick Observatory Council’s efforts to secure Lick’s future. Kast Spectrograph Upgrade 8 UCSC is awarded $350,000 for an upgrade to the Kast Spectrograph. »»p.6 UC Supports Lick Shane Adaptive Optics Laser Upgrade 10 »»p.12 The APF’s First Year ShaneAO will approach Hubble performance at red optical wavelengths.

Tunable Heterodyne Spectrometer 11 A new instrument is built for the Shane telescope by a PhD student.

Success of the Automated Planet Finder (APF) 12 The APF has made a strong showing in its first full year of operation. »»p.8 Kast Upgrade »»p. 16 Friends of Lick Finding the Levy Planetary System 13 The APF played a major role in a discovery just 54 light years away.

POLISH2’s Search for Changes in Polarization of Light 14 Observations of the transiting hot Jupiter HD 189733b. »»p.19 The 1908 Comet Graduate Workshops at Lick Observatory 15 Students from six UC campuses attend the annual workshop.

How Friends of Lick Observatory (FoLO) Got Started 16 Over 450 people have now joined the Friends of Lick community.

Volunteers of Lick Observatory 17 Dedicated volunteers come together to make public events memorable.

The View from Mount Isabel 18 Impressive views of Lick Observatory from 3,760 feet.

Anne Glancy and the Comet of 1908 19 One of Lick’s first female graduate students makes history.

2015 Summer Visitor’s Program 20 Dates for special program nights and concerts announced. »»p.17 Lick’s Volunteers »»p.7 Lick’s Strategic Plan »»p. 15 Grad Workshops »»p.11 New Instruments

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 3 FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

Dear Colleagues and Red-Side Upgrade (p.8) and the new Shane AO Laser Friends, Guide Star (p.10). We had another sold-out Summer Visitors’ Program at Mt. Hamilton this summer (p.17), In October, we received with positive and informative feedback from more than news that was both positive 150 event attendees. Our faculty, students, and research and far-reaching for Lick assistants continue to make fascinating discoveries Observatory. with the Automated Planet Finder and the other Lick telescopes (p.12). After many discussions, UC Provost Aimee Dorr and UC With this strong momentum, we will be looking to the Executive Vice President longer range future in 2015. We now have funds to Nathan Brostrom issued a sustain Lick’s base operating budget through the next letter reversing their previous five years, albeit at a frugal level. We must develop decision to pull funding from Lick Observatory by 2018. strategic plans, cultivate partnerships, and ask the The new letter stated that the Lick Observatory funding bigger questions about Lick’s future for the coming (LEFT) Debbie Chen (far left), Aimee Dorr (middle), and Michael Witherell (back) during a visit to the UCO technical facilities. David “ramp-down” announced last year has been rescinded, decade. Hilyard (right), an optician, gives a tour of the optical lab. (RIGHT) UC Provost Aimee Dorr meets with Jean Brodie, UC Santa Cruz committed UC to a steady UC Observatories base Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics during a visit to the UCO headquarters at UC Santa Cruz. (Photos by Michael Bolte) budget of $5.04 million per year for the coming five We plan to press forward with UC astronomers and with years, and gave UCO considerable flexibility in its dedicated members of the Lick Observatory Council internal budget allocations and planning (p.6). to develop innovative strategies for the future. In this strategic planning process we will be aided by SeriesC, Things are definitely looking up for Lick Observatory! a renowned marketing agency founded by Andy Cunningham (p.7). The firm will conduct stakeholder There is now a strong level of cooperation between audits and analysis, hold two strategy workshops with UC Observatories and the UC Office of the President. us, and help us to develop both a scientific plan and a Morale at UCO and at Lick is on the upswing. Based on marketing plan for the coming decade. UCOP’s commitment to a steady level of base funding for the next five years, we have started to bring in The goal is to determine how best to position Lick external funding for Lick from individual donors and Observatory, and how to maintain our reputation of corporations, charitable foundations, and the National creativity and excellence in an increasingly competitive Science Foundation. astronomical environment once the James Webb Space Telescope begins operations in 2018, and the Thirty The news story describing Lick’s improved future Meter Telescope begins operations in 2024. prospects spread quickly, and spanned publications ranging from Nature Magazine to the New York Times. This strategic planning work is just beginning. But Our own press release reached 11,0000 people and with improved relationships, new partnerships, and a generated 1,120 likes, comments, and shares on renewed positive spirit, the future of Lick Observatory Facebook alone. In the days after the news release, is looking bright. we saw visits to our website at an all time high.

One thing is clear: a lot of people love Lick Observatory and what we’re doing.

The expert engineers and technicians at the UCO instrument facilities are working on two major Claire Max (ABOVE) Members of the UC Office of the President visit Lick Observatory in October. (Pictured from left) Joseph Halay, Graeme Smith, Claire Max, Michael Witherell, Anna Korossy-Eredia, Aimee Dorr, Debbie Chen, David Kliger, Elinor Gates, Brad Holden, Paul instrument projects for Lick, the Kast Spectrograph Interim Director of UC Observatories Lynam, Kostas Chloros. (Photo by Michael Bolte)

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 5 UC SUPPORTS A STRATEGIC LICK’S FUTURE PLAN FOR LICK HILARY LEBOW SANDRA FABER, FORMER DIRECTOR With UC’s new long-term more. The goals for the Lick tackle the same set of questions The University of California Office of commitment to Lick Observatory effort are far ranging and include from the scientific side. Once all the the President reversed a previous recently expressed by the Office major new science initiatives, an ideas are collected, SeriesC will help decision to pull funding from Lick of the President (see previous education and outreach center, the council and UCO administration Observatory by 2018, according to page) comes the opportunity - and and even commercial and tourist to synthesize the new vision and a written statement issued by UC responsibility - to craft a long-term activities. Literally, no ideas are off - very important - to craft a plan to Provost Aimee Dorr in October. strategic plan for the observatory. the table. communicate that vision to the wider world. The letter confirms that Lick The Lick Observatory Council has The planning process will start with Observatory operations will continue been taking the lead in this and has detailed in-depth interviews with The goal is to complete the whole under the management of UC put the observatory in contact with dozens of potential stakeholders, process and announce the new plan Observatories (UCO), the multi- SeriesC, a leading Silicon Valley including UC students and by June 2015. campus astronomical research unit branding and positioning firm that officials, representatives of headquartered at UC Santa Cruz. helps organizations to strategize, local governments, donors, The spectacular turnaround in Lick’s innovate, and bring new products and members of the media and prospects was due in part to the In the letter to UCO Interim Director to market. general public. The goal of these success of the “Save Lick” website, Claire Max, Dorr wrote: “Given the The moon rises over Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton. (Photo by Laurie Hatch) interviews is to find out how these which communicated the importance current state of affairs and trajectory SeriesC was created in 2012 by constituencies view Lick and what of preserving the observatory to the for UCO and UC astronomy, we are and public outreach for the future.” benefit compared with the extremely Silicon Valley marketing veteran the expectations, opportunities, wider world. Now that that need is rescinding the stipulations in our competitive demand for observing Andy Cunningham - a three- and resources are for the accepted, the website will be renamed September 16, 2013 letter as to how Max said that there are sufficient time on larger telescopes,” Max said. time entrepreneur and marketing observatory going forward. “Launch Lick” and will carry up to date Lick is to be funded and managed. funds in the projected budgets “Lick Observatory is a truly valuable partner to some of the world’s top news as the new plan takes shape. It is no longer UCOP’s intention to of UCO to run Lick Observatory resource for our students and tech brands, including Google, Separately, a committee of UC require that Lick Observatory be self at a frugal level for the next five astronomers, along with the Keck Apple, IBM, Sybase, and many astronomical researchers will Stay tuned! supporting, begin a glide path to years. Lick currently has an annual 10-meter telescopes in Hawaii and self-supporting status no later than operating budget of approximately the future Thirty Meter Telescope.” FY 2016-17, or be managed by an $1.5 million. This much needed entity other than UCO.” base budget provides a platform In her letter, Dorr recognized the for pursuing the critical component, valuable role of Lick Observatory. The letter gives the UCO Director, donor and foundation funding. “Indeed, we see the Lick, Keck, with advice from the UCO Advisory and Thirty Meter Telescope Committee and others, the flexibility Ongoing fundraising efforts and Observatories as an integrated to determine the best distribution of potential partnerships currently ecosystem that can together available UC resources between Lick being explored may provide maintain and grow UC’s leadership and other UC-related astronomical additional funding for Lick. in astronomy,” she wrote. facilities such as the 10-meter Keck Telescopes in Hawaii, the Lick Observatory, established in Max said she feels optimistic about instrumentation labs at UC Santa 1888 on Mt. Hamilton near San ongoing discussions and support Cruz and UCLA, and the future Jose, benefits from state-of-the-art from UCOP. Thirty Meter Telescope, now under instrumentation and serves as an construction. active facility for astronomers and “Now that we are all on the same students to conduct research and page, we can move forward to put “We are thrilled to hear this news,” test next-generation technologies. the past behind us and ensure that Max said. “This letter is confirmation Lick Observatory has a vibrant of UCOP’s support for Lick, which “The facilities at Lick offer students future,” she said. will allow us to focus our attention unmatched hands-on experience (LEFT) The public observes through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor on special program nights. (Photo by Laurie Hatch) on building partnerships for research and ample observing time, a huge (RIGHT) The Shane 3-meter telescope lit up at twilight. (Photo by Laurie Hatch)

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 7 (RIGHT) The Kast Spectrograph is the used instrument on the Shane 3-meter telescope. UPGRADE FOR THE (Photo by Elinor Gates) KAST SPECTROGRAPH HILARY LEBOW UC Santa Cruz has been awarded analyze and record wavelengths in the $350,000 in combined grant and donor blue and red ranges independently and funds for a major upgrade to the Kast at the same time. Spectrograph at Lick Observatory. The blue and red spectra are then Astronomers throughout the UC combined to form a spectrum that “We will be system use the Kast Spectrograph covers the entire visible wavelength for scientific research across a broad band, giving astronomers a more able to more range of observational programs. Its complete view of distant objects. powerful and flexible double-camera accurately design makes it the most important and With the new funding, the UC most used instrument on the 3-meter Observatories instrument labs at Shane Telescope at Lick Observatory. UC Santa Cruz will modernize the calibrate red detector to make it as sensitive Bill and Marina Kast, the donors for and powerful as the blue side of the supernovae in whom the instrument is named, initiated spectrograph. the current upgrade program with a our quest to $50,000 donation announced early in “With the upgraded red side of the Kast 2014. Major funding for the upgrade spectrograph, our data will be even was provided by a $300,000 grant from better,” said Filippenko, who played a understand the the Heising-Simons Foundation. major role in securing both the grant and private donation. nature of the Black Holes and Supernovae “For example, we will be able to more dark energy that The spectrograph is used to analyze accurately calibrate supernovae in our faint celestial objects at distances quest to understand the nature of the ranging from our own solar system dark energy that is accelerating the is accelerating to the far reaches of the universe. expansion of the universe.” Astronomers research the chemical the expansion of composition of stars, probe the City Lights surroundings of massive black holes, the universe.” and study massive intergalactic The new red-side detector will also hydrogen clouds, among other projects. have properties that allow for more accurate removal of light from the city Alex Filippenko, professor of lights of the Santa Clara valley. Up astronomy at UC Berkeley, said on Mount Hamilton, 16 miles east of - Alex Filippenko, the Kast Spectrograph is crucial San Jose, the emission of nearby city for his team’s long-term study of lights can occasionally dilute the view professor of supernovae, or exploding stars. “The through the telescopes. Kast spectrograph is unique at Lick Observatory,” said Filippenko. “It With greatly improved sensitivity at astronomy at allows astronomers to obtain spectra redder wavelengths, the upgrade will of objects over the complete optical help astronomers probe deeper into UC Berkeley range, from the near-ultraviolet to the the distant universe and observe it as near-infrared.” it appeared at earlier times.

The spectrograph itself is two distinct “When the Kast was first designed and instruments. Separate CCD detectors built in the early 1990s, it was right

(Continued on next page) Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 9 at the cutting edge in spectrometer efficiency and precision,” said Michael Bolte, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz who THE TUNABLE HETERODYNE helped to secure the grant.

“Although we have made a number of improvements to continually modernize SPECTROMETER (SHS) the instrument, the work funded by the Kasts and Heising-Simons Foundation SONA HOSSEINI, UC DAVIS will allow us to bring the instrument right to the world-leading forefront again. This is wonderful news for UC Sona Hosseini is an astronomy Khayyam is designed for optical at the UC Davis campus and another astronomers.” graduate student at UC Davis. wavelengths, but because it has lab at Lick Observatory. The Kast Spectrograph was designed by former director Joseph Miller and built in the an all-reflective design it has no The Heising-Simons Foundation technical facilities at UCSC. Pictured is electronics technician Barry Alcott (now retired) For my dissertation I developed wavelength limitations due to Following the completion of the working on the instrument. (Photo by Michael Bolte) was established in 2007 by Mark a tunable spatial heterodyne refractor optics. instrument at the UCD campus, I Heising and Elizabeth Simons to spectrometer (SHS) called moved to Lick in December 2010 advance sustainable solutions in the currently only be done at a handful of at the forefront of astronomical Khayyam at the fixed focus of the Due to Khyyam’s large field of and was living and working there until environment, enhance the education places.” surveys and research for the Coudé Auxiliary Telescope (CAT) view at the 0.6m CAT, the main summer 2014. of young learners, and support future.” in the Shane Telescope at Lick science goals are extended groundbreaking research in science. News of the secured funds for the Observatory . targets such as comets and During this period, my responsibilities upgrade project came just after UC Max said this is an exciting time planetary atmospheres, as well on this project included all aspects “With this award, we will be bringing announced their continued support of to bring new projects onboard. SHS instruments are a class of as Earth atmospherics science. It of instrumentation design and the Kast up to the standards of the best Lick Observatory at the end of October. “Our staff at the instrument interferometric sensor capable of can also look at smaller targets development from the mathematical observatories in the world,” said Brad labs will continue to push the providing a combination of large when coupled to the 3-meter concept, optical design, mechanical Holden, a research astronomer at UC “This is more great news for Lick envelope with next generation étendue (i.e., high resolving power Shane Telescope. design, machining, purchasing, ray Santa Cruz and principal investigator Observatory,” said Claire Max, interim technology for Keck, the Thirty [R=λ/dλ~ 10^5] and wide field of tracing, to environmental stability, for the Kast upgrade project. “We will director of UC Observatories. “This Meter Telescope, and now Lick view [FOV~0.5 degree]), and a I started working on my instrument to data acquisition, data reduction be able to make observations that can upgrade will help keep Lick Observatory Observatory.” compact format. in 2010. I assembled an optical lab coding, and optimization.

(BELOW) The Tunable Heterodyne Spectrometer being built. (LEFT) Sonia Hosseini, an astronomy graduate student at UC Davis, SHANE AO LASER UPGRADE working on her instrument for the Shane Telescope. Also in instrument news, the Shane Adaptive Optics (AO) Laser is currently being upgraded at the technical facilities at UC Santa Cruz.

ShaneAO is a second generation adaptive optics system for the Shane 3-meter telescope. A robust facility instrument, it is achieving nearly perfect AO correction at 2 microns.

With a new laser bought with a generous donation by Gordon and Betty Moore, ShaneAO will approach Hubble performance at red optical wavelengths.

(LEFT) The Shane AO Laser guidestar in operation. (Photo by Laurie Hatch) (RIGHT) Daren Dillon, development engineer, with the laser upgrade. (Photo by Michael Bolte)

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 11 THE AUTOMATED PLANET FINDING THE LEVY FINDER’S FIRST YEAR PLANETARY SYSTEM JENNIFER BURT, UC SANTA CRUZ LAUREN WEISS, UC BERKELEY

The observing efforts are being evening. This software must compare Over the past year, Lick The APF discovered the Levy spearheaded by PhD students the science goals (what we want to Observatory’s Automated Planet Planetary System by monitoring Jennifer Burt at UCSC, Lauren observe based on scientific interest) Finder (APF) Telescope has played the motion of the host star HD Weiss at UCB and BJ Fulton and and the engineering constraints (what a major role in the discovery of 7924. Evan Sinukoff at the University of we can observe based on current the Levy Planetary System. Just Hawaii, all of whom are using the atmospheric conditions) to determine 54 lightyears away, at least three The star and its planets all orbit telescope as a key part of their the optimal target at any given time. mini-Neptunes (planets between the center of mass of the system, PhD thesis work. the mass of Earth and Neptune) and so the star’s motion reveals Two successful dynamic schedulers orbit a small cool star, HD 7924. the orbital periods and masses of Having proven the telescope’s have been developed, one by BJ the planets. Since the star is very ability to reach down to 1m/s Fulton and another by Jennifer Burt The three planets dance around massive compared to the planets, Jennifer Burt is an astronomy precision and detect planets with and former UCSC undergraduate their star in quick orbits of 5.4, its motion is quite small. graduate student at UCSC. some human assistance, the APF student Russell Hanson. Lauren Weiss is an astronomy 15.3, and 24.5 days, and each observers have now set their sights graduate student at UC Berkeley has a mass between five and ten The APF’s Levy Spectrometer, a With five planet on achieving truly automated These successes mean that the APF and Ken & Gloria Levy Fellow. times the mass of the Earth. Other high-resolution echelle spectrom- detections published in the observing - only partially driven by is now officially earning the ‘A’ in its planets of similar masses in similar eter, detects the 1-2 meters per Astrophysical Journal in 2014 - their desire to go to bed at night! name and is paving the way for the orbits consist of a rocky core second stellar motion that each and another three planets currently long term, low-interaction observing smothered by a thick gaseous planet induces. It does so by mea- being written up - the Automated The key to this next step is campaigns necessary to find solar atmosphere, and so the Levy suring the tiny Doppler shift of the Planet Finder telescope at Lick developing software capable of systems like our own around other Planets likely have this structure stellar spectrum due to the star’s Observatory has made a strong dynamically selecting the best stars. as well. motion. showing in its first full year of stars to observe throughout the scientific operation.

(LEFT) The fully-robotic Automated Planet Finder (APF) at Lick Observatory. (Photo by Laurie Hatch) (RIGHT) Red lines show the orbits of the planetary system around HD141399 (found using APF data). Dotted black lines are the orbital (ABOVE) The Levy Planetary System is named in honor of the Ken (right) and Gloria Levy, (left) who paths of our inner solar system planets (Mercury through Jupiter) provided for scale. have generously contributed the Levy Spectrometer for the APF. Laurein Weiss is pictured in the middle.

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 13 A GLIMMER OF LIGHT GRADUATE WORKSHOP 2014 FROM POLARIZED WORLDS GRAEME SMITH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR The 2014 Mary Lea and C. planning an observing run, near SLOANE WIKTOROWITZ, UC SANTA CRUZ Donald Shane Observational infrared techniques and adaptive Kyle Boone, UCB Astronomy Workshop was held optics, data reduction), night Matthew Oliver Bowman, UCLA As a planet orbits its host star, the telescope overlooking the 10th at Lick Observatory from October sky orientation, and ultimately change in geometry causes the largest city in the US, POLISH2 16-20. conducting observing runs and Marie D. Calapa, UCSC polarization of scattered light to vary is the most sensitive, aperture- obtaining both spectroscopic Devin Chu, UCLA depending on the size, shape, and integrated polarimeter in the world; Twenty students from six different and imaging data with the Shane Louise Daniels, UCR index of refraction (composition) of its nightly stability to polarized light UC campuses attended, being 3-meter, Nickel 1-meter, and Bili Dong, UCSD the scattering particles. rivals the photometric stability of housed in dormitories at Mount Coude Auxiliary telescopes. Mohamed Hamdy Elhashash, UCR NASA’s . Hamilton for the duration of the Katherina Feng, UCSC For instance, both the discovery of workshop. Lick support astronomers Dr. Venus’ sulfuric acid clouds, and the Since 2011, POLISH2 has Elinor Gates and Dr. Paul Lynam Tara Fetherolf, UCR measured size and non-spherical extensively observed the well Activities at the workshop put an enormous amount of effort Abhimat Gautam, UCLA shape of Titan’s haze particles, were studied, transiting hot Jupiters included an extensive walking into organizing and conducting Eric Gentry, UCSC Sloane Wiktorowicz is an made with polarimetry decades ago. HD 189733b and WASP-12b, tour of the Mount Hamilton site, this workshop. Neil Goeckner-Wald, UCB astronomy postdoc at UCSC. Now, technology has matured to the which orbit their stars with known a talk on the history of Lick John Groh, UCB point where such investigations are geometry. The latter planet, orbiting Observatory, viewing through In addition, we had the support of Tiffany Hsyu, UCSC Even with 1,500 confirmed possible for . its host star every 26 hours, is likely the 36-inch refractor, lectures a remarkable volunteer, Patrick Man-To Hui, UCLA exoplanets, and another 3,000 non-spherical due to the proximity on observatory astronomy Maloney, who assisted with the awaiting confirmation, very few At the Lick 3-m telescope, POLISH2 of its host star. techniques (e.g., celestial operation of the 36-inch refractor Chun Kwan Leung, UCSD have had their atmospheres searches for tiny changes in the coordinate systems, CCDs, and Nickel telescopes. James McElveen, UCD studied directly. polarization of star + planet light, Our measured amplitude of Erfan Nourbakhsh, UCD which amount to ten planetary nightly variability in HD 189733b Omid Sameie, UCR Scattered light from planets may photons for every million from the is consistent with recent Hubble Our sincere thanks to UC Irvine Professor Virginia Trimble, Anowar Jaman Shajib, UCLA allow us to uncover the existence host star. measurements of the planet’s whose generous financial sponsorship made this event possible. of clouds, surfaces, oceans, and albedo (reflectivity), suggesting possibly even vegetation on their Even with a modest $45k spent the first ground-based detection of (LEFT) Graduate students receive a lecture inside the dome of the Shane 3-meter telescope. surfaces. on hardware and a 60-year-old scattered light from an is (RIGHT) Graduate students from six UC campuses attend the graduate workshop. (Photos by Elinor Gates) on the horizon.

Figure caption: Nightly changes in the fraction of polarized light from the HD 189733 star + planet system. Each grey (single-night) and blue (combined from multiple nights) orbital phase point corresponds to a certain position in the orbit of the planet. Similar to Mercury, Venus, and the Moon as seen from Earth, polarization changes depending on orbital position.

Lick Observatory data show no polarization signal greater than the pink band, which represents the expected polarization based on the planetary albedo (reflectance) measured by Hubble (Evans et al. 2013, ApJ, 772, L16 [E13]). Our data are inconsistent, with 7.5 confidence, with a previous detection that required an unphysically large planetary albedo (Berdyugina et al., 2011, ApJ, 728, L6 [B11a]).

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 15 HOW FRIENDS OF LICK LICK OBSERVATORY OBSERVATORY GOT STARTED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM BOB & MICHELLE KIBRICK, LICK COUNCIL PATRICIA MADISON, PUBLIC PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Some of our fondest family UCSC Friends groups which assist a mission for FoLO. The new memories are connected with Lick various campus programs with group would foster broader public Observatory: viewing the Moon, fundraising and public outreach, and participation in the Observatory by Saturn, and the Ring Nebula through we realized that there was no official augmenting Lick’s research and the Great Lick 36” Refractor and Friends group for Lick Observatory. educational efforts, visitor programs Nickel 1-meter telescopes, watching We decided to change that. and exhibits, and the preservation of a meteor shower, and hiking and historical materials. picnicking on Mt. Hamilton. In 2011, we and several other people began the planning process FoLO became chartered as a We have been affiliated with Lick for Friends of Lick Observatory UCSC Friends group in June 2012, Observatory (and with the UCSC (FoLO). Although Lick Observatory coinciding with the transit of Venus campus) for over 38 years, and is a UC systemwide facility that across the Sun. Due to further cuts through those years, our affection for serves eight campuses and two in UC funding, FoLO’s mission has the Observatory has never waned. UC-managed labs, much of its been expanded to also help support technical and administrative staff basic Observatory operations. But we did notice that due to are housed at its headquarters on dwindling UC funding, maintenance the UCSC campus. Thus, it seemed Since its inception, over 450 people of facilities and enhancements to appropriate to affiliate FoLO with the have joined FOLO, from California visitor programs on Mt. Hamilton Santa Cruz campus. and 22 other states. were being deferred. We wanted to help. We researched support groups For more details, see FoLO’s web (LEFT) The main building at Lick Observatory during a music of the spheres concert, a program heavily run by volunteers. for other observatories and UCSC page. We look forward to seeing you (RIGHT) Performers at a Music of the Spheres concert. (Photos by Michael Bolte) We are longtime members of several friends groups and came up with at the Observatory. If you have ever attended one who bring and operate their own the end of the 18th season for the Lick of Lick Observatory’s Summer personal telescopes. Observatory Volunteer Program. There Visitor Programs (SVP) or Music were nine SVP programs, four MoS of the Spheres concerts (MoS), A typical MoS program requires a programs, two Saturday Stars programs, you might not realize it takes a few additional staff and volunteers and additional public events such as the large and dedicated group of – one or two more public program STEAM Festival at Reid Hillview Airport volunteers to make each event assistants for parking, and a wine and Splashdown 2014 at U.S.S. Hornet. possible. glass and coffee mug distributer. In 2014, a total of 85 volunteers helped A typical SVP program requires In spring of 1997, Ron Bricmont at these events. More than 65 of the 28 or more staff and volunteers: and Lick Observatory employee volunteers helped two or more times, four public program assistants Lotus Baker, launched the Lick making their efforts the equivalent of for event set up and tear down Observatory Volunteer Program over 260 volunteer opportunities. and parking, front door staff, gift to help run the Music of Spheres shop staff, a history talk speaker, Programs. Many of the original The Lick Observatory volunteers are a a science talk speaker, host, volunteers came from the Halls dedicated collection of people interested public programs coordinator, Valley Astronomical Group (HVAG). in astronomy and eager to share their a 40” telescope operator, a The HVAG is a subdivision of the enthusiasm for Lick Observatory and the 40” control room volunteer, Friends of the Grant Ranch, the skies above. two 36” telescope operators, volunteer organization at the Grant a science talk videographer, Ranch County Park, eleven miles Thank you to both the staff members and seven or more additional inside down the road from the observatory. the volunteers for making the summer (ABOVE) FoLO membership-kickoff event during the June 5, 2012 transit of Venus. volunteers, and four to six programs possible. For more information, (LEFT) FoLO volunteers manned a table at the ‘Splashdown 45’ event in July, which outside telescope volunteers, Labor Day weekend 2014 marked e-mail [email protected]. celebrated Lick’s role in the the Apollo 11 moon-landing mission in 1969. FoLO volunteers operated two solar telescopes to allow the public to observe the sun and its spots.

Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 17 ANNE GLANCY AND THE COMET OF 1908 THE VIEW FROM MOUNT ISABEL TONY MISCH, LICK HISTORIAN RON BRICMONT, LICK COUNCIL In the autumn of 1908 Comet first among them—used the telescopes industrious, and accurate”—and her Morehouse appeared in the on Mt. Hamilton. classmate Phoebe Waterman became northern sky. Its beauty and the the first women to receive astronomy complexity of its shifting form were To photograph Comet Morehouse, PhDs from UC. Waterman married at least the equal of its far more Glancy used the observatory’s 6-inch soon after and, in a time when a famous cousin Halley, which would Willard and Dallmeyer cameras, married woman had little chance of cause such wide excitement two mounted on the Crocker Telescope, pursuing an independent career in years later. simultaneously making long exposures academia, left astronomy. with the former and shorter pairs with Comet Morehouse was followed by the latter. She took advantage of every Glancy spent the next five years as observers around the world. At Lick, night that weather and moonglow an observer at the Argentine National its spectrum was studied by Director permitted, throughout the three months Observatory in Cordoba. Returning to W. W. Campbell and astronomer of the comet’s brightest apparition, and the US in 1918, she took a job with the Sebastian Albrecht. Direct imaging though hampered by a particularly American Optical Company, where, for was taken up by one of Lick’s first inclement fall, obtained more than the next 33 years, she distinguished female graduate students, Anne eighty 8 x 10 inch plates, resulting in a herself in mathematical optics and lens Estelle Glancy. superb series of images that beautifully design. Dr. Anne Estelle Glancy died in The view of Lick Observatory from Mount Isabel at 3,760 feet. (Photo by Ron Bricmont) illustrate the comet’s changing shape. 1975 at age 91. By 1908, women were routinely employed as “computers” in In 1913, Glancy—whom the head of To the southeast of Lick Observatory, an unsurpassed view of the beyond our galaxy. the astronomical workshops of the UC astronomy department, Armin See the Lick Observatory Historical across the 2000-foot deep gorge observatory. With the precipitous major observatories, measuring Leuschner, described as “brilliant, Collection at collections.ucolick.org of Sulfur Creek, rises the gently gorge of Sulfur Creek Canyon at Farther to the right, beyond the photographic plates and performing rounded, chaparral and scrub oak one’s feet, the full expanse of the scope of this photograph, is Mount complex, repetitive calculations. But covered summit of Mount Isabel. observatory is spread out before Copernicus, surmounted by a fire their work was invariably in support The second highest peak in the one. All of the domes can be seen, lookout tower. At 4363 feet, it’s the of observing projects initiated Diablo Range, only 130 feet lower as well as nearly all of the other highest point in the Diablo Range, and carried out by the academic than Mount Copernicus, its 4230- buildings. 500 feet higher than Mount Diablo. fraternity of male astronomers. foot summit is 14 feet higher than Womens’ supposed physical frailty, Lick’s iconic Main Building. At the left, on Rattlesnake Ridge, When the Sulfur Creek Ranch deficient creativity, and the lack of is the dome of the historic 36-inch addition to Grant Ranch Park is separate accommodations for them From Mount Isabel, the views of Lick Crossley Reflector. To the right, opened to the public in the near at observatories were chief among Observatory are impressive. Until on Observatory Peak, is the future, those who are willing and able the stubborn Victorian prejudices recently, this has been private ranch Main Building, with the domes to make the rigorous hike up Mount that effectively barred them from land and these views have been the of the Great Lick Refractor and Isabel will be able to enjoy not only the telescope. privilege of very few. That is about the 40-inch Nickel Reflector. To this superb view of the observatory, to change. the right of that, on diminutive but many other fine views of it from A 1917 letter of reference on Huygens Peak, is the small lower on the mountain. behalf of a student applying for a Since the fall of 2012, most of the dome of the 22-inch Tauchmann Lick graduate fellowship all-too- western side of the mountain has Reflector. As one climbs the Mount Isabel Trail, plainly illustrates the prevailing been part of Grant Ranch County along the spine of the western spur of attitude: “While unfortunately Park. The top 230 feet of elevation Next to the right, on Tycho Peak, the mountain, the observatory can be she is not a man, I believe she is of Mount Isabel is part of the Lick are the small domes of the seen at many points in a constantly handicapped by her sex less than Observatory Reserve. Up to an Automated Planet Finder and the changing series of inspiring views. any aspirant I have known.” (The elevation of 4000 feet, however, the 20-inch Double Astrograph; as applicant, Edith Cummings, was mountain, and the views from it, will well as the large dome of Lick’s For those looking for a much easier awarded the fellowship, and went soon be open to the public. largest telescope, the 3-meter hike, there will be other excellent on to build Lick’s first photoelectric Shane Reflector. At the far right, views from the lower elevation Lick photometer.) I took the photo above from an on Kepler Peak, is the Katzman View Trail, which rises more gently elevation of 3760 feet. From Automated Telescope, celebrated on the southern side of Sulfur Creek Lick, though not entirely immune this vantage point, there is for its discovery of supernovae Canyon. to such prejudices, was notably progressive in the early admission (TOP) The comet near the height of its apparition in 1908.(Lick Historical Collection) of women to its graduate program, (LEFT) The Crocker Telescope with the Willard Lens in 1892. (UCSC Digital Collections) and those women—Estelle Glancy (RIGHT) Dr. Glancy with colleague Dr. Edgar Tillyer in1930. (Jacob Edwards Library Collection) Lick Observer Winter 2014 ucolick.org 19 2015 Summer Visitors Program Lick Observer Lick Observatory hosts a popular Summer Visitors Program for the public to hear lectures about astronomical research and The Lick Observer is a periodic history. The public can also observe through both the 36-inch publication showcasing the scientific Great Lick Refractor and Nickel 40-inch Reflecting Telescope. accomplishments, research, discoveries, Tickets will go on sale April 2015. FoLO members will receive instruments, and programs at Lick advanced ticket purchase opportunities. Observatory for the UC astronomy community and beyond. Friday, June 12 Friday, July 24 Editors: Saturday, June 13 Friday, August 7 UCSC Professor Jean Brodie Friday, June 26 Friday, August21 Hilary Lebow, Layout Designer Friday, July 10 Contributors & Photographers:

Michael Bolte, Ron Bricmont, Jennifer 2015 Music of the Spheres Program Burt, Sandra Faber, Alex Filippenko, Our Music of the Spheres concert series is held annually in Elinor Gates, Sona Hossesini, Laurie the summer as well. Tickets will go on sale April 2015. FoLO Hatch, Jim Katzman, Bob Kibrick, Michele members will recieve advanced ticket purchase opportunities. Kibrick, Patricia Madison, Claire Max, Tony Misch, Graeme Smith, Lauren Weiss, and Sloane Wiktorowitz. Saturday, June 27 Saturday, August 8 If you have ideas for the next edition of Saturday, July 11 Saturday, August 22 the Lick Observer, please e-mail your suggestions to [email protected] and Saturday, July 25 [email protected].

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