Evening with the Stars – July 25, 2025

Evening with the Stars – July 25th, 2025 8:30pm

Lecture: Galaxies in Motion

Astronomer: Dr. Kyle Westfall

Program Information

7:30 pm	Doors Open
	Lecture Hall	36-inch Great Refractor Dome
8:30pm	Science Lecture	History Lecture
9:30 pm	Science Talk (repeated)	Telescope Viewings
10:30 pm	History Talk (repeated)	Telescope Viewings
1:00 am	Doors Close

Observing passes are handed out when you check in at the door so please plan to arrive early!

Observing only ends when everyone has had a chance to look through the telescope.

Gift shop is open from 7:00pm until 11:00pm.

Weather may restrict telescope viewings, but all other activities will still take place.

Science Lecture

Galaxies in motion

Although it may be counterintuitive, our Universe is an incredibly dynamic place, ever in motion and ever changing. In fact, the study of how objects move is a key part of how astronomers build an understanding of their nature. However, the timescales involved in these motions are typically very long, particularly for studies of distant galaxies. So how do astronomers measure the motions of galaxies if changes take such a long time? And what do these motions tell us about how they were formed and how they change with time?

Dr. Kyle Westfall – UC Observatories

Dr. Kyle Westfall is an Associate Project Scientist at the University of California Observatories. He obtained his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2009, and he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Netherlands and the UK before joining UCO in 2016. He is an expert in galaxy kinematics, he leads software developments for the processing and analysis of telescope data, and he helps develop new instruments for UCO telescopes.

Telescope Targets

Tonight’s guests will have the chance to observe:

Great 36″ Reflector
Objects chosen each evening

Nickel 40″ Reflector
Trifid Nebula

Outside Telescopes
More telescopes will be available outside looking at galaxies, star clusters, and more!

Trifid Nebula / M20 – Image Credit: Jeff Hester (Arizona State University)

Featured Observatory Volunteers & Staff

Hosts

Dr. Lauren Corlies

TBD

History Lecture 1

TBD

History Lecture 2

TBD

Great Refractor Operators

TBD

Nickel Reflector Operator

TBD

Nickel Reflector Control Room

TBD

Thanks to all of our volunteers for making this evening possible!

Tips and Additional Information

Refreshments

Snacks and beverages are available at the refreshment table in the main foyer. All proceeds help support the public programs. In the past, we have used proceeds to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), additional wooden benches in the main building, new speakers and amplifiers for the main building hallway, and partial funding of two spotting telescopes by the flag pole.

Dark Adjustment

Your experience at the telescopes will be better if your eyes have had an opportunity to adjust to the dark. For this reason, we try to keep the light levels low in both wings of the main hall.

Lights

Please refrain from use of flash photography or white light flashlights in the domes or adjoining hallway.

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) by emailing tickets@ucolick.org, so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Our Volunteers

All of Lick Observatory’s public programs are greatly enhanced by the valuable participation of our many dedicated volunteers.

Interested in volunteering? Learn more here!