Evening with the Stars – August 8, 2025

Evening with the Stars – August 8th, 2025 8:00pm

Lecture: The Astrobiological Exploration of Enceladus

Astronomer: Dr. Alfonso Davila

Program Information

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

The Astrobiological Exploration of Enceladus

In 2005, the Cassini spacecraft made a groundbreaking discovery—a massive plume of ice and gas erupting from the south pole of Enceladus, a small but geologically active moon of Saturn. The plume is now believed to originate from a subsurface ocean of liquid water beneath the moon’s icy crust, with conditions compatible with life, as we know it. This talk will focus on our current understanding of Enceladus’ plume and subsurface ocean, and on current strategies to search in them for possible evidence of life.

Dr. Alfonso Davila – NASA Ames

Alfonso Davila is a Research Scientist in the Exobiology branch at NASA Ames Research Center, where he helps develop strategies to search for evidence of life beyond Earth. He also conducts theoretical and experimental research on the nature and distribution of life in terrestrial environments considered analogous to extraterrestrial settings of astrobiological interest and investigates factors that affect biological potential and biosignature preservation in those analog environments.

Telescope Targets

Tonight’s guests will have the chance to observe:

Great 36″ Refractor
Objects chosen each evening.

Nickel 40″ Reflector
Wild Duck Cluster

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

Wild Duck Cluster / M11 – Image Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI and P. Dobbie (University of Tasmania)

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!