Lick Observatory, in the hills east of Silicon Valley in California, is owned and operated by the University of California (UC); see here. There, we conduct cutting-edge research (especially for long-term projects like the search for exoplanets and monitoring exploding stars), provide training for students and postdoctoral scholars, develop new technology (such as laser-guide-star adaptive optics), and conduct public outreach and education. See, for example, my Lair of the Bear lecture given via Zoom in June 2020: (this is also linked under the Selected Lectures tab on the astronomy.club website). You can also download an Executive Summary here.
However, it is difficult to maintain the necessary funding for Lick Observatory (about $2 million per year), especially given the recent roughly 15% budget cut to various UC facilities that was caused by events precipitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Please consider donating, to help match a $1.5M gift to UC Berkeley from Google! Together, we can help Lick Observatory thrive, conducting great research and serving UC students (and the general public) far into the future.
One way to support Lick Observatory (if you wish) is to join the Friends of Lick Observatory; see here.
Another way to contribute (in a manner that helps match the Google/Lick gift to UC Berkeley) is online here.
Or, if you prefer to send a cheque, it should be made out to “The UC Berkeley Foundation”. In the memo line (or an accompanying note), please write “The UC Berkeley Lick Observatory Operations Fund.” The UC Berkeley Foundation tax id# is 94-6090626.
Please mail the cheque to:
University of California, Berkeley
Donor and Gift Services
1995 University Avenue, Suite 400
Berkeley, CA 94704-1070
If you have any questions, please contact Maria Hjelm (Assistant Dean of Development, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, UC Berkeley), by cell phone or email: 925-457-1500 cell, mhjelm@berkeley.edu.
With gratitude,
Alex
Alex Filippenko 