36" refractor with TV 55mm. Plossl

Just returned from a Spring break trip to Morgan Hill CA. Had the opportunity to drive to the top of Mt. Hamilton and tour the Lick Observatory. To my surprise I noticed while looking at the large refractor, a familar item drew into focus (no pun intended)...as the circular floor rose steadily upwards my attention was aimed at the reduced 2" diagonal and eyepiece. It was a TeleVue 55mm. Plossl ! John M in Astoria, OR

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I'll try to download a few more shots of our trip.. JM

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Just found this one..

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I visited the observatory and saw that scope on August 25, 1961. At that time, Lick had the second largest refractor and second largest relector in the world. I even made the effort to acquire the tickets necessary to have a look through it. And there was a total lunar eclipse that night! But my parents didn't think it was a big enough deal to be worth staying for the evening, so I missed out. I remembered being very bummed out at the time.

I THINK THE MAGNIFICATION WITH THE 55MM EYEPIECE ON THE 36' LICK REFRACTOR IS ABOUT 320X. THIS WOULD BE THE LOW POWER!

John,

Thanks for sharing the photos of the Lick Observatory and the 36" refractor. I took me back to my early 70's college days at San Jose State, when I took many motorcycle rides up the to top of Mount Hamilton to see the observatory. I never had the opportunity to look through the instrument myself and only got to see it through the window in the door at the entrance into the dome from the main hallway.

On one visit, the movable observation floor under the dome (moves up and down 16' on hydraulic rams) was in the raised position and I could see where the scope's mount was anchored to the exposed rock of the mountain. A single light bulb illuminated a bronze plaque on the base of the mount; "Here lies the body of James Lick". He must be the only person on Earth, buried under a telescope.