Information for Observers
Telescopes and Technical Information
The following Lick Observatory facility research telescopes are available for use for researchers (and collaborators) from the University of California (UC), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL):
- Super-LOTIS 0.6-m Telescope
Applying for Telescope Time
Telescopes are scheduled in semesters (A: February to July; B: August to January), with proposal submission deadlines in mid-October and mid-April, respectively. For specifics, refer to the Call for Proposals.
Proposal guidelines, telescope time application forms, and observing policies are available:
Application Forms and Related Resources
And on pages hosted at UC Observatories:
Shane Observer Information
APF Observer Information
Nickel Observer Information
Technical Documentation
Manuals for telescopes, instruments, and other technical information:
Telescopes
Instruments
Mount Hamilton
Almanacs for Lick Observatory
Sunset, Twilight, Moon phase for Lick Observatory
Bright and Dark Times for Lick Observatory
Telescope Schedules
Shane, APF, and Nickel telescope schedule
Lick Refractor, CAT, Crossley, and KAIT telescope schedule
Schedule Modification or Cancellation
To change, swap, or return telescope time, refer to policy:
Time Change Policy
For last minute cancellation due to emergency or weather, refer to policy:
Cancellation Policy
Accessing Lick Observatory
Observers, researchers, or technicians seeking only daytime access to Lick Observatory facilities on Mount Hamilton (i.e. not overnighting) must submit an advance request via e-mail to mh-facilities@ucolick.org.
The request must specify:
Names(s);
Affiliation(s);
Contact information;
Purpose of visit;
Proposed date(s);
Proposed time(s);
Approved requests shall receive protocols on accessing the facilities, picking-up keys, sign-in, and sign-out requirements.
Travel to Lick Observatory
Visiting scientists are expected to arrange their own transport to Lick Observatory. There are no public transport services to Mount Hamilton. Lick Observatory does not provide vehicles for visiting scientists. There are no fuel or automotive services on Mount Hamilton. It is recommended to (re-)fuel vehicles before departing an urban center (e.g. San Jose, Patterson, or Livermore) immediately before ascending Mount Hamilton.
Directions to Lick Observatory
Travel policy and reimbursement information is available:
Travel Policy and Travel Reimbursement
While taxis, Uber, and Lyft may deliver passengers to Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, they may not provide transportation from Mount Hamilton. Private car services, e.g. ExecuCar and similar companies, or look up Airport Transfers on booking.com or similar sites, will provide transportation to and from Lick Observatory from San Jose (SJC), San Francisco (SFO), and Oakland (OAK) international airports (although often more expensive than renting a vehicle).
Zipcar has sometimes proven problematic: Zipcar users have successfully arrived at the observatory. However, once the vehicle is turned off, difficulties have emerged when attempting to unlock or start the vehicle due to poor cell service. Zipcar claims to have an app to allow locking, unlocking, start and end trip from iPhone or Android devices. Prospective Zipcar users are encouraged to download and test the app before using Zipcar to travel to Lick Observatory.
On-site, most facilities are within walking distance. Visitors experiencing mobility constraints or requiring special accommodations are requested to notify staff in advance.
Assistance at Lick Observatory
If assistance is required on Mount Hamilton, from a Lick Observatory phone (if using cell or off-mountain phone prepend 408-23 before the mountain extension):
Emergency (Police/Fire/Medical), Tel: 9-911
Emergency (Mount Hamilton), Tel: 8-9611
Superintendent, Tel: 8-9614
Supervisor, Tel: 8-9613
If unable to contact staff by telephone, make a radio call on channel LICK T1 (radios are located in the telescope control rooms, or can be requested for sign-out in advance for communication if working in remote locations on the observatory grounds).
Accommodation/Lodging at Lick Observatory
Those overnighting at Lick Observatory (e.g. attending for local instruction) must make accommodation reservations at least one week in advance via e-mail: reservations@ucolick.org
Approved requests shall receive protocols on accessing facilities, picking-up keys, sign-in, and and sign-out requirements.
Additional practical information (e.g. description of dormitory accommodation, mandatory self-catering arrangements, observatory map, etc.) is available:
Practical Information
Rates
Dormitory Room (Full Night Lodging) UC Affiliated – $93.00/night
Dormitory Room (Full Night Lodging) Non-UC Affiliated – $150.50/night
Check-In/Check-Out
Check-in time: Keys available from 4pm
Check-out: 2pm
Shared Bathrooms
If assigned a dormitory room which shares a bathroom with an adjacent room and both rooms are occupied, the bathroom will be cleaned and sanitized daily between the hours of 2pm and 4pm.
Health & Safety
Visitors accommodated on Mount Hamilton shall comply with the prevailing University policies, e.g. pertaining to coronavirus protocols, vaccinations, face coverings, symptom check questionnaires, etc.:
Policy
Under certain circumstances (e.g. high transmission rates, high occupancy, large groups) visitors may be requested to adopt additional measures to enhance protection of those vulnerable and/or immunocompromised. For up-to-date information on prevailing policies, prospective visitors should contact the support astronomers via e-mail: sa@ucolick.org.
Domestic Animals (Non-service Animals Prohibited)
Pets and other animals are restricted on UCSC-administered property (and thereby Lick Observatory). Domestic animals that are not service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are prohibited on all UCSC property unless specifically exempted by the UCSC Non-Research Animal Policy. UCSC policy states support animals are not service animals.
ADA
UCSC Non-research animals
UCSC Support vs service animals
Weather
The National Weather Service 7 day forecast for Mount Hamilton is available:
National Weather Service Forecast
Current weather conditions from Mount Hamilton weather stations and web cameras are available:
Lick Observatory Weather Resources
Support for Observations at Lick Observatory
Instructions, telephone, and e-mail contacts for on-call telescope technicians and support astronomers are available:
Support Astronomer On-Call Schedule
Other directories and schedules are available:
Mount Hamilton Directories and Schedules
No person may operate a Lick Observatory telescope or facility instrument without first being instructed (check-out) in its use by one of the resident support astronomers. for observers to check-out other observers without explicit approval is expressly prohibited. This does not preclude, for example, assistance with record keeping or with one’s own experimental equipment. It is considered good practice for prospective observers to accompany experienced colleagues for several observing nights to gain familiarity before requesting instruction. Persons who have previously received instruction may request additional instruction, if desired. Refer to policy:
Support Policy
Instruction/Check-out
Instructional (check-out) appointments for novice users of, or those requiring refresher instruction to (re-)gain familiarity with, Lick Observatory telescopes, instruments and protocols should be coordinated in advance with support astronomers via e-mail: sa@ucolick.org.
Support may not always be available for a preferred date due to pre-existing commitments or conflicting demand from multiple programs and/or instruments. Whenever possible, appointments are typically proposed to commence during the afternoon immediately before a scheduled observing run, taking account of the relative complexity of scheduled instrument/program and accommodating other commitments.
A typical appointment starts in the afternoon, several hours before sunset and consists of two parts:
- Pre-sunset: Introduction to safety protocols; Verify instrument functionality and configuration(s); Focus instrument; Optimize observing strategy; Notification of limits, procedures and changed operating circumstances. This pre-sunset portion typically requires several hours and must include
sufficient time for calibration activities (which, depending on instrument configuration, can require several additional hours). - Post-sunset: Twilight calibration; Check pointing; Focus telescope. Thereafter, two independent acquisitions of a target are normally sufficient to complete instruction.
It is impractical to instruct groups larger than 2 persons. If instruction is required for more than 2 persons, multiple appointments are recommended.
On-site Instruction/Local Check-out
Observers unfamiliar with Mount Hamilton and/or not previously instructed are expected to attend Lick Observatory for at least the first night of their first
allocated observing run to receive on-site instruction during the afternoon immediately before the observing run commences (local check-out). Motivations include:
- Safety: Observers attending in-person gain understanding of hazards, safety protocols and potential consequences of not abiding by established procedures.
- Distributed Site: An understanding of the distributed nature of facilities.
- Working rapport: Develop and enhance working rapport with staff.
- Immersive experience: Opportunity to witness observatory operation.
Having attended Mount Hamilton, it is a matter of observer preference whether to undertake subsequent observing nights/runs locally or remotely.
Virtual Instruction/Virtual Check-out
In some cases (e.g. observers already familiar with Mount Hamilton; observers with substantial observatory experience; enhanced biosecurity; compelling circumstances) a waiver of the on-site attendance expectation (submitted for the consideration of the Deputy Director and support astronomers) may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, in favor of virtual instruction (virtual check-out). Typically, for a waiver to be approved, sufficient prior on-site experience at a ground-based observatory is expected.
For virtual instruction, observers are expected to have sufficient resources (i.e. reliable network connection; suitable/compatible computing resources; video-conferencing capability; installation of dedicated observing software). Sufficient resources are available in a designated remote observing room (reservation systems exist for each UC campus).
If unable to observe from a designated remote observing room, observer(s) have the option to install software to enable observing from a personal computer. Observer(s) wishing to observe in this mode should install and test software at least a few days in advance of the scheduled observing run. Instructions can be found at the following location (and references therein):
Remote observing software
Remote Observing
Remote observers are expected to have previously attended on-site instruction and gained sufficient experience. Potential remote observers must receive additional remote observing instruction (remote check-out) during the afternoon immediately before the first night of their remote run commences. Typically, this is completed in less than one hour, largely consisting of a review of previous on-site/virtual instruction and updated information.
Shane remote observing policy
Nickel remote observing policy
Target of Opportunity (TOO)
A target of opportunity (TOO) policy exists:
TOO Policy
TOO mechanisms are established for Shane and Nickel telescopes:
Shane TOO mechanism
Nickel TOO mechanism
Target Lists
Target lists, prepared in advance as ASCII files, should comply with the starlist convention:
Starlist format
Tours
Lick Observatory routinely hosts tours, including visiting telescope enclosures. Enclosures must be illuminated while tour groups are present, thus precluding acquisition of dome flat field calibrations. All other activities (e.g. wavelength range, windowing, focussing, wavelength calibration, biases)
can proceed unaffected. Observers should plan activities (particularly dome flat field calibrations) to accommodate tours. If time and group size permits, tours may visit the control room and briefly interact with observers.
Data
Data produced by Lick Observatory facility instruments are available via the on-line data repository.
Data Repository
Data is proprietary to observing program Principal Investigators (PIs) for at least one year before becoming publicly accessible. PIs should coordinate with support astronomers regarding credentials. Data from before 2007 may or may not be archived, suitably preserved or available. Data going back to 1882 are on media ranging from photographic plates to exabyte tapes.