After more than a decade of construction, the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) opened both of its massive eyes on the night sky for the first time earlier this year. Located high atop Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona, the LBT is the first of a new generation of extremely large optical telescopes. Its two 8.4-meter diameter primary mirrors are mounted side-by-side on a single mount, giving it a light gathering power equivalent to a single 11.8-meter circular mirror, making it currently the world's most powerful optical telescope. This talk will introduce the LBT and its suite of powerful instruments, highlight some of the early scientific results, and describe its future capabilities.

All programs begin at 7:30 pm in Kanbar Hall at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California Street (at Presidio Avenue). Tickets are $5 in advance by mail or at the door. Please e-mail any questions to or call (415) 321-8000.

Join us for a weekend-long celebration of historic proportions in Golden Gate Park — with family-friendly activities and entertainment from morning to night.

Enjoy live music and dance performances. Sample sustainably-sourced food from all over the world. Marvel at Chinese acrobats. Browse the latest in green technologies. Scale the rock-climbing wall. And so much more!

And this is just what's outside the Academy in the Music Concourse. Admission inside the Academy is free on Saturday, September 27th. Plus, hours are extended both days.

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