"The Christmas storm that pummeled the Bay Area also badly damaged the South Bay's Lick Observatory, causing the worst destruction the beloved scientific institution has experienced in more than a century. After the two- to three-ton metal shutter was torn free, it crashed onto the roof of the main building, crushing support beams and leaving the telescope's precision lenses and electrical systems exposed to rain and wind."
"The road to recovery remains uncertain. "We don't know if the piece that landed on the roof is bent too badly to be reused," Macintosh said. If a new shutter must be built, repairs could take nine months or more, likely extending into next summer. Insurance will cover part of the cost, but the observatory is also seeking donations and volunteer support to help sustain programs and staff."
A powerful winter storm tore a two- to three-ton metal shutter from Lick Observatory's dome, which crashed onto the main building roof and crushed support beams. The impact exposed the Great Refractor's precision lenses and electrical systems to rain and wind and registered on the observatory seismograph at 3:16 a.m. Recovery remains uncertain because the landed shutter may be too bent to reuse. If a replacement shutter must be fabricated, repairs could take nine months or more. Insurance will cover part of the cost while the observatory seeks donations and volunteers. Staff are planning temporary exhibits and portable telescopes for outreach ahead of the 150th anniversary.
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