Lowell Observatory currently operates four research telescopes at its Anderson Mesa dark-sky site, located 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Flagstaff, including the 180-centimeter (72-inch) Perkins Telescope (in partnership with Boston University) and the 110-centimeter (42-inch) John S. The observatory does contain areas that are closed to the public view, although there are multiple places that tourists are welcome to visit. This observatory included many rooms with tools that were useful to observers including a library for research, a room for processing photographic glass plates, multiple antique instruments used by previous astronomers, and many artifacts. ![]() In 2014, the 8,000 square feet (740 m 2) Putnam Center was opened. Also located on the Mars Hill campus is the 33-centimeter (13-inch) Pluto Discovery Telescope, used by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 to discover the dwarf planet Pluto. The telescope, built in 1896 for $20,000, was assembled in Boston by Alvan Clark & Sons and then shipped by train to Flagstaff. The main facility, located on Mars Hill just west of downtown Flagstaff, houses the original 61-centimeter (24-inch) Clark Refracting Telescope, which is now used for public education, with 85,000 annual visitors. The observatory operates several telescopes at three locations in the Flagstaff area. Multiple astronauts attended the Lowell Observatory in 1963 while the moon was being mapped for the Apollo Program. Percival's nephew Roger Putnam served from 1927 to 1967, followed by Roger's son Michael (1967–1987), Michael's brother William Lowell Putnam III (1987–2013), and current trustee W. The first trustee was Lowell's third cousin Guy Lowell (1916–1927). The observatory was founded by astronomer Percival Lowell of Boston's Lowell family and is overseen by a sole trustee, a position historically handed down through the family. It was at the Lowell Observatory that the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. In 2011, the Observatory was named one of "The World's 100 Most Important Places" by Time Magazine. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. Six-aperture astronomical interferometer with baselines up to 437 m (1,434 ft) (located at Anderson Mesa, operated in partnership with the USNO (through NOFS) and the NRL) Lowell Astrograph (Pluto Discovery Telescope) They really knew their stuff, answering questions and giving the information in a way that was accessible to everyone.35☁2′10″N 111☃9′52″W / 35.20278°N 111.66444°W / 35.20278 -111.66444Ĥ.28 m (169 in) telescope (located at Happy Jack, Arizona)ġ80 cm (72 in) cassegrain telescope (located at Anderson Mesa)ġ10 cm (42 in) Ritchey-Chretien telescope (located at Anderson Mesa)ħ9 cm (31 in) reflecting telescope (located at Anderson Mesa)Ħ4 cm (25 in) catadioptric (located at Anderson Mesa)Ĥ1 cm (16 in) Boller and Chivens cassegrain telescopeĪbbot L. Each time we were impressed at how well prepared these presenters were. We watched three presentations: Fun science, which was great for the kids Defining Pluto, which went through the discovery of Pluto and its being reclassified as a dwarf planet and the Cosmos, which talked about galaxies and the creation of the universe. ![]() Lowell Observatory allows visitors to go to programs led by undergrad students that discuss astronomy in depth. From the hill of the observatory, it was amazing to see how dark the city was, despite the 72,000 people living there. This means that all the lighting must point downward and be of certainly wavelengths that don’t interfere with stargazing. Flagstaff is the world’s first city to receive a Dark Sky designation. This is partly because of its location in Flagstaff. But the Lowell Planetarium really stands out as a favorite. We’ve visited the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake as well as the BYU Planetarium in Provo. At Utah’s Adventure Family, we are definitely into stars, constellations, and events in the sky.
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