Wind-battered Lick Observatory rushes to shield historic telescope after dome damage

Winds exceeding 110 mph that tore across the top of Mount Hamilton early Christmas morning blasted a massive steel protective door off the iconic white dome at Lick Observatory.

Now, with back-to-back rainstorms bearing down on the Bay Area, officials this week are racing to seal the gaping hole and protect the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope beneath it.

“I’ve never seen or even heard of damage like this to a dome,” said Lick Observatory site superintendent Jamey Eriksen.