Projects
Volunteering @ Lick
Our team is dedicated to helping the Lick Observatory with their public program events. To participate and know more…
Telescope Donation Drive
Support Planet Talk’s campaign to unlock the stars for local middle and high schools by enabling us with your donations.
Role Model Speaker Series
Get words of knowledge and tap into the wisdom of university and industry leaders and researchers with our speaker series.
Volunteering @ Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory in Mt. Hamilton, California is one of the oldest observatories and since 1888, is a major site of the multi-campus research unit of UCO (University of California Observatories). It provides astronomers with access to world-leading optical-infrared observing equuipments.
Our team at Planet Talk volunteers their time at the 36″ and 40″ refractor telescopes at Lick and helps coordination of public programs like the Music of the Spheres and Evening with the Stars which are open to about 30,000 visitors.
During the programs, we usher guests into the different areas of the observatory, lead them to the science and history talks and manage the traffic for the viewings inside the domes.
Telescope Donation Drive
Join Planet Talk in our mission to inspire and educate the next generation of astronomers! We launched a special campaign to provide local middle and high schools with the gift of telescopes, to foster curiosity and exploration of the cosmos among students.
Why Telescopes Matter:
Astronomy ignites wonder, curiosity, and critical thinking. By donating telescopes to schools, we aim to:
Spark Interest: Encourage young minds to explore mysteries of the universe and develop a lifelong passion for science.
Enhance Learning: Enrich classroom experiences with hands-on observation and discovery.
Equal Opportunities: Bridge the gap and provide all students, regardless of background, access to astronomical wonders.
How You Can Help:
- Donate: Your generous contributions will directly fund the purchase of telescopes for local schools.
- Spread the Word: Share our campaign with friends, family, and colleagues to amplify our impact.
- Volunteer: Join our team to support local events and activities, inspiring young minds through engaging workshops.
Together, We Can Reach for the Stars!
Role Model Speaker Series
The number of astrophysicists grew at a rate of 19.9% from 2019 to 2020, however not many people fully know about the field and career opportunities and the number of people in the field still remains at a low 13000+.
To add, disciplines such as physics and astronomy are traditionally male dominated and women continue to remain underrepresented in such fields to this day. The typical female gender ratio tends to be in the 10-15% range.
As part of Planet Talk’s Role Model Speaker Series, we have lined up reputed speakers from the industry and academia, researchers and professors who can share their knowledge and educate our younger generation on career opportunities and advancements in astrophysics. See a recording of our first Speaker Prof. Kevin France from University of Colorado, Boulder here!