Philosophy
by
Lisa M. Krieger
December 16th, 2013
mercurynews.com
Astronomical research at Lick Observatory is in peril, due to the University of California's plans to cut funding and convert the 125-year-old Mount Hamilton telescopes into a mere museum.
The plan is based on conclusions of a UC board that two other sites -- W. M. Keck Observatory and the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) -- deserve higher priority at a time of cost-cutting.
The UC-run observatory, which has been in operation on the 4,200-foot summit of Mount Hamilton, east of San Jose, since 1888, is home to six telescopes. It has made major contributions to the field of astronomy, discovering asteroids, moons of Jupiter and planets outside our solar system.
UC will ramp down funding for Lick starting in 2016, with a complete cutoff after 2018.Lick's telescopes lack the huge mirrors of newer telescopes, which see fainter and far more distant objects in space, said UC-Santa Cruz professor of astronomy Garth Illingworth, a member of the University of California Observatories, which manages the university's telescopes.
"But Lick is still very important," despite its limitations, said Illingworth, who opposes cutting its funding.
The observatory provides a place where about 100 faculty, students and post-docs get scientific data.
In addition, "it has some unique capabilities like the Automated Planet Finder and the supernova search program that are world class," he said.
UC is asking UCSC to help find non-university sources of revenue to underwrite the operating costs of Lick. It also wants UCSC to pay the salaries of 11 Lick-based faculty and staff, even if they are affiliated with other UC campuses.
But this could prove difficult, because it is often tough to find grants to support the day-to-day operations of an observatory.
In general, donors prefer to support new hardware used to explore new ideas.
Already, several prominent astronomers have left Lick because of funding uncertainties.
The decision is based on June 2013 recommendations of a UC board set up by Steven Beckwith, an astronomer at UC Berkeley who serves as vice president for research and graduate studies within UC Observatories. The board is responsible for reviewing the university's astronomical research and suggesting ways to improve UC's investments in the field.
Its report recommended that UC direct its astronomy dollars to Keck and the TMT project. Lick would be a self-supporting public observatory.
Lick's new Automated Planet Finder would likely find continued funding, said Illingworth. But research at the other telescopes is in serious jeopardy, he said.
"If funding can't be found -- if no one is willing to continue supporting it -- it will shut down," he said.
"For many reasons, I believe that is unwise."
Lick Observatory [Wikipedia]
Lick Observatory website
- Arthur Kennelly Or Karl Jansky...first Radio Telescope
"That Time Thomas Edison Almost Invented the Radio Telescope" by Ron Miller September 23rd, 2013 io9 In 1890, Arthur Kennelly, an electrical engineer working for Thomas Edison, wrote a letter to the director of the Lick Observatory. He described an interesting...
- Yerkes Observatory...40 Incher...otto Struve [ii]
Okay, "bigger is better"--sort of. And what's the connection with Otto Struve [II]. 150 years ago or so telescopes, the refractor type, were the "thing". Now, in 1847 the Harvard College Observatory had two 15" refracting telescopes...one of which...
- Alvan Clark & Sons--telescope Makers
US Naval Observatory's 26" telescope. Lick Observatory's 36" telescope Yerkes Observatory's 40" telescope Bill Ashworth [Linda Hall Library Newsletter] wrote... Alvan Clark, an American lens maker, was born Mar. 8, 1804. With his sons,...
- "visit To An Observatory Or Planetarium?" Poll
Mueller Planetarium Have you ever visited an observatory or planetarium? Yes...9 No...0 Good to see the results. I know one voter lives very close to a famous observatory in Southern California and I bet he has worked on one. :) McDonald Observatory University...
- Oldest Operating Public Telescope--mount Lookout
Carol Abbott Cincinnati Observatory Center in Mt. Lookout Posthumous accolade of one man's effort to keep a public observatory functioning. "Sundial brings out astronomer's pals" by John Eckberg March 22nd, 2009 Cincinnati.com MOUNT...
Philosophy
Lick Observatory may be shutdown
"Lick Observatory's astronomy research could end"
by
Lisa M. Krieger
December 16th, 2013
mercurynews.com
Astronomical research at Lick Observatory is in peril, due to the University of California's plans to cut funding and convert the 125-year-old Mount Hamilton telescopes into a mere museum.
The plan is based on conclusions of a UC board that two other sites -- W. M. Keck Observatory and the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) -- deserve higher priority at a time of cost-cutting.
The UC-run observatory, which has been in operation on the 4,200-foot summit of Mount Hamilton, east of San Jose, since 1888, is home to six telescopes. It has made major contributions to the field of astronomy, discovering asteroids, moons of Jupiter and planets outside our solar system.
UC will ramp down funding for Lick starting in 2016, with a complete cutoff after 2018.Lick's telescopes lack the huge mirrors of newer telescopes, which see fainter and far more distant objects in space, said UC-Santa Cruz professor of astronomy Garth Illingworth, a member of the University of California Observatories, which manages the university's telescopes.
"But Lick is still very important," despite its limitations, said Illingworth, who opposes cutting its funding.
The observatory provides a place where about 100 faculty, students and post-docs get scientific data.
In addition, "it has some unique capabilities like the Automated Planet Finder and the supernova search program that are world class," he said.
UC is asking UCSC to help find non-university sources of revenue to underwrite the operating costs of Lick. It also wants UCSC to pay the salaries of 11 Lick-based faculty and staff, even if they are affiliated with other UC campuses.
But this could prove difficult, because it is often tough to find grants to support the day-to-day operations of an observatory.
In general, donors prefer to support new hardware used to explore new ideas.
Already, several prominent astronomers have left Lick because of funding uncertainties.
The decision is based on June 2013 recommendations of a UC board set up by Steven Beckwith, an astronomer at UC Berkeley who serves as vice president for research and graduate studies within UC Observatories. The board is responsible for reviewing the university's astronomical research and suggesting ways to improve UC's investments in the field.
Its report recommended that UC direct its astronomy dollars to Keck and the TMT project. Lick would be a self-supporting public observatory.
Lick's new Automated Planet Finder would likely find continued funding, said Illingworth. But research at the other telescopes is in serious jeopardy, he said.
"If funding can't be found -- if no one is willing to continue supporting it -- it will shut down," he said.
"For many reasons, I believe that is unwise."
Lick Observatory [Wikipedia]
Lick Observatory website
- Arthur Kennelly Or Karl Jansky...first Radio Telescope
"That Time Thomas Edison Almost Invented the Radio Telescope" by Ron Miller September 23rd, 2013 io9 In 1890, Arthur Kennelly, an electrical engineer working for Thomas Edison, wrote a letter to the director of the Lick Observatory. He described an interesting...
- Yerkes Observatory...40 Incher...otto Struve [ii]
Okay, "bigger is better"--sort of. And what's the connection with Otto Struve [II]. 150 years ago or so telescopes, the refractor type, were the "thing". Now, in 1847 the Harvard College Observatory had two 15" refracting telescopes...one of which...
- Alvan Clark & Sons--telescope Makers
US Naval Observatory's 26" telescope. Lick Observatory's 36" telescope Yerkes Observatory's 40" telescope Bill Ashworth [Linda Hall Library Newsletter] wrote... Alvan Clark, an American lens maker, was born Mar. 8, 1804. With his sons,...
- "visit To An Observatory Or Planetarium?" Poll
Mueller Planetarium Have you ever visited an observatory or planetarium? Yes...9 No...0 Good to see the results. I know one voter lives very close to a famous observatory in Southern California and I bet he has worked on one. :) McDonald Observatory University...
- Oldest Operating Public Telescope--mount Lookout
Carol Abbott Cincinnati Observatory Center in Mt. Lookout Posthumous accolade of one man's effort to keep a public observatory functioning. "Sundial brings out astronomer's pals" by John Eckberg March 22nd, 2009 Cincinnati.com MOUNT...