"After the 2- to 3-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. Bruce Macintosh, director of the University of California Observatories, said that the impact was so intense it registered on the observatory's seismograph, allowing staff to pinpoint the exact moment the shutter fell: 3:16 a.m."
"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 winter storm severely damaged Lick Observatory when a 2- to 3-ton metal shutter tore free and crashed onto the main building roof, crushing support beams and exposing precision lenses and electrical systems to rain and wind. The impact registered on the observatory's seismograph at 3:16 a.m. Recovery remains uncertain because the landed piece may be too bent to reuse. If a new shutter is required, repairs could take nine months or more, likely extending into next summer. Insurance will cover part of the cost, and the observatory is seeking donations and volunteers while planning temporary outreach alternatives.
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