Lick Observatory

My inner astronomy groupie got a thrill today. We finally made a trip up to the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, near San Jose. The original telescope (built in the 1880s) is in a gorgeous Art Deco building, where they're currently exhibiting reproductions of Chesley Bonestell's space art. The interior of the dome is very Jules Verne looking, painted aqua with a pale pink lattice over it. Also the entire floor, a circle of beautiful polished wood, rises up to carry the observer to the eyepiece. They currently have nine operational telescopes at Lick, and a new one is just now being completed. Fantastic views of the entire South Bay as well. I'd love to go back at night for one of the public programs.