Tonight’s Host: Dr. Paul Lynam

This Evening’s Events

Concert

Melody of China

Melody of China brings the music of nature to the Music of the Spheres.

Sounds of nature abound in the lively folk, regional, and classic melodies that Melody of China musicians perform on traditional instruments.

Returning to the Music of the Spheres are director Yangqin Zhao, playing the yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) – the instrument she was named for – and her sister, Gangqin Zhao, playing the guzheng (plucked zither) and percussion. Joining the ensemble is noted musician Thomas Lee, master of the 2-string bowed instruments, the Chinese erhu and gaohu.

With stellar musicianship and camaraderie, Melody of China adds a delightful musical interlude to the Lick Observatory night of galaxy gazing.

Based in San Francisco, Melody of China is California’s award-winning premiere Chinese music company, featuring small to large ensembles of conservatory-trained musicians, who perform for theaters, festivals, and special event audiences. MelodyofChina.org

Science Lecture

(presented twice)

Dr. Claire Poppett

University of California, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory

“Dark Energy – How to observe the invisible”

Dr. Claire Poppett is a researcher in astrophysics at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory who specializes in Astronomical Instrumentation. She is particularly motivated to research and develop new technical solutions that are necessary to build the next generation of astronomical instruments in order to answer the big questions about our universe. Claire studied at Durham University in the UK before moving to Berkeley, CA. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, climbing, and any other activity that involves being outside, especially when it includes being with her two young children.

Tonight’s Telescopes & Objects

Lick Observatory’s 36-inch Great Refractor saw “first light” in 1888. At the time, it was the largest refractor telescope in the world. It is an enduring memorial to James Lick’s philanthropy and his final resting place.

For nearly 300 years after Galileo first turned a telescope toward the heavens it was believed that the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, had just four moons. In 1892, using the Lick’s 36-inch Great Refractor, Edward Barnard discovered a fifth moon, the much fainter Amalthea, the last moon of any planet to be discovered without the aid of photography, electronic detectors or space-based telescopes.

The 36-inch telescope will show you an interesting astronomical object of the telescope operator’s choosing. This may be a globular cluster of stars, a binary star, or a galaxy.

The Nickel 40-inch Reflector, named for philanthropist Anna Nickel, was designed and built in the Lick Observatory Technical Facilities at UC Santa Cruz and completed in 1979. The 40” diameter mirror of this modern telescope makes it the third most powerful telescope on Mount Hamilton.

Tonight you will view NGC 6543, the Cat’s Eye planetary nebula, in the constellation Draco.

Telescope Operators:

36-inch Great Refractor

Rolf Weber | Thomas Kelley

40-inch Reflector

Pat Maloney

40-inch Control Room

Evan Carrasco