Lick Observatory's Refracting Telescope

Lick Observatory is the first refracting telescope and astronomical telescope observatory built on a mountain site.

Lick astronomical telescope Observatory is located on the top of Mount Hamilton, along the Diablo Range of California. It is under the supervision of the University of California.

It is for this reason that the construction was never easy but instead was a difficult and challenging task. Roads to the top had to be built to provide for a way for the horse-drawn wagons to bring the refracting telescope and other astronomical telescope equipments and construction materials.

The refracting telescope of the Lick Observatory was 36 inches or over 91 centimeters. During the time of its creation, this astronomical telescope was the largest refracting telescope, until it was taken over upon the creation of the Yerkes telescope.

Aside from its 36-inch refracting telescope, Lick also maintains astronomical instruments and other astronomical telescope as well as reflecting telescope equipments like the 3-m and 1-m Shane reflecting telescope, Coude Auxiliary Telescope, 36 inch Crossley Reflecting telescope, dual astrograph, and the Katzman Auto Image Telescope.

The Lick Observatory was built by millionaire James Lick, upon the influence of George Davidson, an astronomer who convinced him that the refracting telescope observatory would be a great legacy.