Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2022
  4. January 29
  5. The Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California, USA
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios The Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California, USA

January 29, 2022

The Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California, USA

© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motio

Legacy of light. Lick Observatory, California, USA

Shrouded in snow on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in California’s Diablo Range, lies the world’s first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory. Constructed between 1876 and 1887, the Lick Observatory has been the site of significant discoveries including several of Jupiter’s moons and other planetary systems. If you’re wondering about that name – it’s a tribute to the American businessman James Lick, who set aside US $700,000 to build a facility that would be home to a “telescope superior to, and more powerful than, any telescope yet made”.

His wish came true. The refracting telescope with a 36in (91cm) lens on Mount Hamilton was the largest that had ever been built when it saw first light on 3 January, 1888. Nine years later, a 40in (101cm) refractor was built at Yerkes Observatory, in the US state of Wisconsin. Sadly, Lick died before his vision became a reality, but his name lives on. His body is even buried beneath the telescope, which continues to scan the skies today.

snow outdoor nature mountain covered winter skiing highland

Related Images

Adélie penguins in AntarcticaAdélie penguins in Antarctica
Black grouse males in Kuusamo, FinlandBlack grouse males in Kuusamo, Finland
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, East Java, IndonesiaBromo Tengger Semeru National Park, East Java, Indonesia
Lenticular clouds, PatagoniaLenticular clouds, Patagonia
Giant panda at Chengdu Panda Base, ChinaGiant panda at Chengdu Panda Base, China
Icelandic horses standing in a field, IcelandIcelandic horses standing in a field, Iceland
Polar bears asleep in CanadaPolar bears asleep in Canada
Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, UtahHoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Today on Bing

Blackbird in Essex, England

Blackbird in Essex, England

Jan 29, 2023
Robin during a winter snowstorm, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire

Robin during a winter snowstorm, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire

Jan 29, 2021
Semuc Champey nature park in Guatemala

Semuc Champey nature park in Guatemala

Jan 29, 2020
An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland

An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland

Jan 29, 2019
A vacuum chamber at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, USA

A vacuum chamber at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Jan 29, 2018
A giant barrel cactus and yucca plants in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico

A giant barrel cactus and yucca plants in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico

Jan 29, 2017

Related Tags

snow outdoor sky animal bird mountain nature cloud mammal clouds landscape canyon valley highland tree carnivore orange penguin adaalie penguin ice
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 4K Ultra HD
Download 7188x4043
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.