James Lick Legacy Day: 150 Years of Discovery

On June 7, 2026 - 150 years after the Act of Congress that granted the top of Mt. Hamilton as the site for the University of California’s Lick Observatory - join us to honor the legacy of James Lick’s visionary gift to fund what became the world’s largest telescope at the time.

This, together with Anthony Chabot’s gift in 1883 to establish the Oakland Observatory (later the Chabot Space & Science Center), and the founding in 1889 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, helped shape modern astronomy.

While initially scheduled to be celebrated atop Mount Hamilton, severe windstorm damage to Lick’s historic dome and main building in December 2025 has brought this special event to Chabot, continuing a shared tradition of public access to science.

The evening features a Planetarium presentation by Alex Filippenko, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley: “Research, Technology, and Education at Lick Observatory, and its Shared History with Chabot.” This will be followed by a light reception and telescope viewing (weather permitting) through Chabot’s three historic telescopes.

Join us to celebrate 150 years of discovery and inspiration under the stars!