As part of UC’s top-tier research community, University of California Observatories is proud to contribute to one of the world’s most distinguished research institutions.
University of Observatories (UCO), Lick Observatory supports the University of California’s 700+ graduate programs—offering hands-on training on Mount Hamilton to students from diverse backgrounds across 9 campuses.
Lick Observatory’s most recent workshop accepted students from UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and UC Merced. After the students returned to their campuses, we received a glowing response from UC Merced’s Assistant Professor, Physics Anna Nierenberg. She reported that her student—Maria Perez Mendoza, had an incredible time and gained so much from this invaluable experience.
Nierenberg further commented. “This is an incredible learning opportunity for our graduate students which really highlights the benefit of the cooperative nature of UC. It is very special for our students to be able to participate in hands-on learning with a research telescope. Through UC Observatories, our students benefit from resources that are way beyond the means of an individual campus. Not only this, but the workshop allows students to meet students from other UC campuses, enabling them to build a large peer network beyond their home campus.”
UCO was honored to receive this feedback from Anna; furthermore, Maria was eager to share more insights about her experience with us.
What did you take away from your time at Lick Observatory?
My primary reason for attending this week-long workshop was to gain hands-on experience. While I had worked with telescopes before, I wanted to deepen my understanding of the various procedures involved. I had some observational experience using the W.M. Keck Observatory facilities, but I was eager to reinforce and fine-tune my knowledge.
The planning sessions were incredibly beneficial. We spent time early on developing our intuition regarding telescope capabilities, which greatly aided our observing plans. This aspect of the workshop was essential, as it helped us understand key concepts like coordinates—things that are often automated or overlooked today. It was the perfect environment to explore and solidify these ideas, providing a strong foundation for future observations
Interacting with the staff at Lick was wonderful! I felt a bit nervous about the instruments at first, but I ended up spending a lot of time driving the telescopes. The computer screens were filled with information, which could be overwhelming, but the staff’s patience and guidance made a huge difference. I felt comfortable asking all my questions, no matter how silly they seemed, and I could feel myself learning with each step.
Observing Saturn with the 36-inch Lick Refractor—seeing its rings with my own eyes was surreal. Maneuvering the Tauchmann 22-inch reflector to locate the moon was a challenge; but so rewarding! Each day felt like a new adventure, and I’m filled with excitement just reflecting on the experience.
The wealth of knowledge and resources at this institution has truly become dear to me, and I’m eager to spread awareness and share it with others.
I particularly enjoyed the history lecture. I was unaware of Lick Observatory’s rich historical significance, walking through its halls made me feel part of something much larger. I visited the observatory last year and thought it was amazing, but I hadn’t realized the many opportunities available there for UC students. I also found the Adaptive Optics lesson fascinating, as it directly relates to my research. Gaining a deeper understanding of AO capabilities was invaluable.
I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed the auroras and Comet A3; such special sky events are the icing on the cake! I’m also thankful for the mostly good weather we had, and even on the night when conditions weren’t ideal, we still had a productive evening exploring the archives and learning about historical observations.
Would you encourage other students to attend?
I wholeheartedly recommend this workshop to all graduate students in the UC system interested in astronomy! It serves as a fantastic introduction for those looking to use telescopes, and those working with simulations. Understanding how to connect simulations to real observations is crucial. I truly wish I had attended this workshop earlier!
The students I met at the workshop were fantastic! Connecting with the broader UC community through conferences and workshops like the Lick Observatory graduate workshop is so valuable.
These opportunities have been a highlight of grad school, allowing me to make great friends and share my work in a supportive atmosphere.
I hope to participate in the summer public programming at Lick Observatory in 2025. Staff astronomer Paul Lynam mentioned that students sometimes give mini talks during public observing nights—an excellent way to engage with and give back to the local community.
This graduate workshop truly rekindled my childhood curiosity about science.