Music of the Spheres: Charged Particles | Lick Observatory
Concerts
Welcome to Music of the Spheres
!
Enjoy a live concert, learn about the latest astronomy research from world-renowned scientists, and view the night sky through Lick Observatory's historic 36-inch Great Refractor & 40-inch Nickel telescopes for an unforgettable night!
Learn more about Music of the Spheres here!
Full program can be found here!
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Friends of Lick Observatory gain early access to tickets on April 9th.
General sales start on April 16th.
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PROGRAM
5:30 pm Parking Gates Open
7:00 PM Doors Open
8:00 PM Concert
9:00 PM Science Talk
9:00 PM Telescope Viewing Begins
BAND: Charged Particles
Charged Particles features three of the country's virtuosos crossing stylistic boundaries and blends diverse traditions to create engaging new sounds. The trio's funky Latin jazz repertoire, blending in elements of classical music, mixes complex orchestration with freewheeling improvisation. Come and enjoy a night of jazz and stars!
Learn more about our performers here!
SCIENCE LECTURE
Speaker: Dr. Artem Aguichine (UC Santa Cruz)
Title: A New Era of Exoplanet Characterization: Hunting for Water Worlds
Abstract:More than 5,800 exoplanets have been discovered so far, but what do we really know about these distant worlds? With key missions like Kepler and telescopes such as Keck, we have become adept at measuring basic properties of exoplanets, but unraveling their true nature remains a thrilling challenge. Based on theoretical models of planet formation, evolution, and structure, astronomers predict a vast array of planetary compositions. Even more exciting, the most common category of exoplanets—sub-Neptunes—could be “water worlds,” resembling scaled-up versions of icy moons like Europa and Titan.
Astronomy is now entering a transformative new era with JWST, whose groundbreaking observational techniques are unveiling the complex nature of these sub-Neptunes. Transmission spectroscopy observations have already started to reveal molecular signatures in exoplanet atmospheres, shedding light on their interiors and compelling us to refine our models. From transit to transit spectroscopy, join me to learn how these recent JWST results have transformed our view of exoplanet structures and compositions, and how they are shaping the hunt for true water worlds.
Looking ahead, upcoming missions such as ESA’s ARIEL and NASA’s future Habitable Worlds Observatory will take exoplanet characterization to the next level, offering deeper insights into habitability conditions and propelling the field of astrobiology forward. By uniting new observational data with advanced theoretical models, we stand on the threshold of discovering—and perhaps one day confirming—the existence of genuine water worlds beyond our Solar System.
Learn more about our speaker here!
Ticket Types
General Admission
tickets include concert seating, astronomy lecture, viewing through the 36-inch Great Refractor telescope and viewing through the 40-inch Nickel Telescope.
Preferred Admission
tickets include front center concert seating, astronomer lecture, priority viewing through the 36-inch Great Refractor, and priority viewing through the 40-inch Nickel Telescope.
WEATHER
The event will be held rain or shine. Weather may restrict telescope viewing, but all other activities will still take place.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Plan to arrive early - Numbered telescope viewing passes will be handed out in the order that guests enter the building. Lower number passes access telescopes first.
The evening concludes when everyone has observed through the telescopes.
Be prepared for a late night drive home.
The event lasts between 4-6 hours.
GETTING TO THE OBSERVATORY
Parking is limited at the Observatory. We encourage carpooling.
Allow a one-hour drive from San Jose. The road is winding so expect to drive slowly.
There are no gas stations, EV charging stations, or automotive services at Lick Observatory. The nearest gas station is 20 miles away in San Jose.
See more information on
driving directions and parking here
.
AGE RESTRICTIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY
Children under age 12 are not recommended to attend this event due to late hours.
To view through the telescope you need to be able to climb at least a few stair steps.
For special assistance (e.g., difficulty with stairs), email
tickets@ucolick.org
to discuss options.
RECOMMENDED ATTIRE
Wear casual, comfortable warm layers and walking shoes. After dark it can be windy and cold.
REFRESHMENTS
Snacks and beverages are available for purchase at the refreshment table and gift shop. Vending machines and water fountains are also accessible.
SAFETY
We recommend you bring a small flashlight - lighting is limited outside the buildings.
CONTACT US
If you can’t find the answer to a question here please contact us at
tickets@ucolick.org.
Information Source: Lick Observatory | eventbrite