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APOD 2016 JUNE 23
LICK OBSERVATORY
MOUNT HAMILTON
CALIFORNIA
SUMMER SOLSTICE
2016 JUNE 20
LH7407 LICK OBSERVATORY SOLSTICE DAWN FULL MOONSET
APOD: Astronomy Picture of the Day :: 2016 June 23
2016 June 20
05:48:05 AM PDT
Summer Solstice: The full moon descends behind Lick Observatory on the summit of Mount Hamilton at sunrise. The Belt of Venus is exceptionally vibrant on this morning due to particulates in the atmosphere. The camera is positioned on Copernicus Peak (4365 feet, 1330 meters) looking west. The shadow of the peak is preventing the sun's rays from brightening the nearby domes of the Shane 3-meter Telescope and Main Building's Great Refractor and Nickel Reflector. However, the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope at far left is illuminated by dawn's first light. Note Mount Hamilton's subtle triangular shadow rising above the Santa Cruz Mountains in the background, slightly above the horizon to the right of center.
Lick Observatory crowns the 4200-foot summit of Mt. Hamilton above central California’s Silicon Valley. This research station serves astronomers from University of California campuses and their collaborators worldwide. Eccentric Bay Area businessman and philanthropist James Lick funded construction in the 1880’s, envisioning the Observatory as a premier astronomical facility, and also as his memorial and final resting place. Lick is entombed in the base of the Lick 36” Refractor, the most powerful telescope on the planet when built. It remains the world’s second largest refractor. The mountaintop is populated by ten telescopes which are supported by resident staff and by headquarters at UC Santa Cruz. Acclaimed for academic excellence, technical expertise, and superior instrumentation, Lick Observatory probes the expanding frontiers of space.
EXPOSURE DATA
Landscape and sky:
Nikon D810
Nikkor 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom
1/50 second @ f10
ISO: 160
Moon (same session, camera, lens, and tripod position):
Nikon D810
Nikkor 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom
1/100 second @ f10
ISO: 160
Native Resolution: 7360x4912 pixels
Raw image file data were adjusted, optimized, and sharpened for digital output.
PUBLICATIONS
This image is available in high resolution.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
University of California Observatories
The Nature Conservancy's Mt. Hamilton Project
The History of Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory Collections Project
Sun / Moon Data US Naval Observatory
Thank you to APOD authors & editors Robert Nemiroff (MTU) and Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) for featuring this image! Sincere gratitude is also extended to University of California Observatories / Lick Observatory astronomers, staff, and friends for their generous and invaluable assistance in producing these photographs.
COPYRIGHT • All images and text are property of Laurie Hatch Photography; unauthorized use is a violation of copyright law. You are welcome to email me with your usage requests.
PUBLISHERS • This image is available in high resolution.
