Pictures of Distant Worlds - SOLD OUT

• Astronomy talk by “star” scientists
• Viewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor telescope
• Viewing through the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescope
• Fascinating history talk about Lick Observatory
• After-hours gift shop access
• Astronomy discussions with amateur astronomers and viewing through small telescopes

In the past two and a half decades, more than 4000 planets have been discovered orbiting other stars beyond our own Solar System. This has sparked a revolution in astronomy as we realize our Solar System is not alone. However, we still don’t know if our Solar System is rare or unique - the powerful techniques that detect extrasolar planets have discovered systems very different than our own. In recent years, advances in technology have allowed a handful of giant planets to be imaged directly.

Find out about the first-ever images of other solar systems - and the technology that has allowed us to discover them, such as the Gemini Planet Imager - as well as the future planet-hunting space telescopes. The ultimate goal is detection of a second ‘pale blue dot’ - an Earth twin where we could even see the biosignatures of extrasolar life. Such a discovery will truly complete the evolution of our view of the Universe.