"Crews at the historic Lick Observatory are racing against the clock after 114 mph winds damaged the historic dome on Christmas Day. Starting on Wednesday, the first of several storms is forecast to arrive in the Bay Area, potentially imperiling the center's iconic telescope. The strong winds tore off half the shutter on the 36-inch dome, which has been at the site for 140 years, according to the observatory's website."
"Officials expect that fixing the dome will be a "long process" and could take months, Matthew Shetone, the observatory's deputy director, said in a news release. The center's personnel are focusing on protecting the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope, which was built in the 1880s, weighs over 25,000 pounds and consists of fragile glass lenses. Back-to-back storms are expected to hit the Bay Area beginning on Wednesday, and a large hole in the dome means the telescope is at risk of being damaged."
"Over the next several days, "light rain" and "unsettled weather" are expected at Mount Hamilton, Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told SFGATE. The first storm system is expected to bring up to 2 inches of rain to Mount Hamilton from Wednesday through Friday. Winds up to 35 to 40 miles per hour are also forecast and will continue to build through the weekend, Kennedy said."
114 mph winds tore off half the shutter on the 36-inch dome at Lick Observatory on Christmas Day, blowing the shutter onto the Great Hall roof and damaging multiple beams. The dome has stood at the site for 140 years. Officials expect repairs to be a long process that could take months. Personnel are prioritizing protection of the Great Lick Refractor telescope, a fragile, 25,000-plus-pound instrument built in the 1880s, and have wrapped it in black plastic tarps. The observatory is temporarily closed while crews secure the site. Back-to-back storm systems are forecast to bring rain and increasing winds up to 45–50 mph, elevating the risk to the telescope.
Read at SFGATE
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