Lick Observatory

The dome housing the Great Lick Refractor stands tall under the nighttime sky.

M3 - Star Cluster

Messier 3 is a globular star cluster located in constellation Canes Venatici - Single exposure taken with the 17,630 mm, F/19.3 Great Lick Refractor - Canon 6D, ISO 10000, 10s

First Quarter Moon

The terminator line on the first quarter moon - Single exposure taken with the 17,630 mm, F/19.3 Great Lick Refractor - Canon 6D, ISO 400, 1/10s

Jupiter

Jupiter, with Io transiting, and other moons Ganymede and Europa off to the side

Jupiter Close-up

Jupiter close-up with its moon Io transiting -- Imaged with the 129 year old Great Lick Refractor at the Lick Observatory. WARNING: Due to the chromatic aberrations of the Great Lick Refractor combined with the enlargement of this image, please beware that it will print with a very "soft" focus, as you can see for yourself on the screen.

M57 - Ring Nebula

The Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Lyra. The fate of our own solar system will result in a scene much like this -- with the Sun at the center, shedding its skin outwards, incinerating everything in its path.

M57 - Ring Nebula Close-up

The Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Lyra. The fate of our own solar system will result in a scene much like this -- with the Sun at the center, shedding its skin outwards, incinerating everything in its path.

Blue Snowball Nebula

NCG 7662 - aka the Blue Snowball Nebula - is a planetary nebula -- the remains of solar system much like our own, with the central star still showing after shedding all of its layers, incinerating everything in its path

Blue Snowball Nebula Close-up

NCG 7662 - aka the Blue Snowball Nebula - is a planetary nebula -- the remains of solar system much like our own, with the central star still showing after shedding all of its layers, incinerating everything in its path

M15 - Globular Cluster

Messier 15 is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. At an estimated 12 billion years old, it is one of the oldest clusters known.

M1 - Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula is the remnants of a supernova. While we weren't able to capture a pristine version of this object, we still felt it was good enough to add to the final results given that it was imaged using a 129 year old telescope. WARNING: This image will print "grainy," especially for any large prints.

NGC 7331 Version 1

NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pegasus. In this version, we sacrificed detail to reduce the noise. While we weren't able to capture a pristine version of this object, we still felt it was good enough to add to the final results given that it was imaged using a 129 year old telescope. WARNING: This image will print "grainy," especially for any large prints.

NGC 7331 Version 2

NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pegasus. In version 2, we boosted the signal to reveal more detail, which also increased the noise. While we weren't able to capture a pristine version of this object, we still felt it was good enough to add to the final results given that it was imaged using a 129 year old telescope. WARNING: This image will print "grainy," especially for any large prints.

Great Lick Refractor (1)

The 36" Great Refractor at the Lick Observatory sits atop 4,209 ft. Mt. Hamilton just outside San Jose, CA

Great Lick Refractor (2)

The 36" Great Refractor at the Lick Observatory sits atop 4,209 ft. Mt. Hamilton just outside San Jose, CA

Great Lick Refractor (3)

The 36" Great Refractor at the Lick Observatory sits atop 4,209 ft. Mt. Hamilton just outside San Jose, CA

Great Lick Refractor (4)

The 36" Great Refractor at the Lick Observatory sits atop 4,209 ft. Mt. Hamilton just outside San Jose, CA

Great Lick Refractor (5)

The 36" Great Refractor at the Lick Observatory sits atop 4,209 ft. Mt. Hamilton just outside San Jose, CA

Great Lick Refractor (6)

The 36" Great Refractor at the Lick Observatory sits atop 4,209 ft. Mt. Hamilton just outside San Jose, CA