Lowell Observatory

Hampton Inn History of Lowell Historic Library Observatory Hours

Lowell is a unique research observatory with a rich history of astronomical innovation and discovery dating back more than 100 years. Set in the mountains of northern Arizona, Lowell supports nearly two dozen scientists who work on a range of topics, including the origins of comets, the chemistry of icy solar system bodies, the search for near-Earth asteroids, a search for extra-solar planets, star formation processes in galaxies, the formation and evolution of massive stars, stellar rotation and Sun-like stars. For more information, visit www.lowell.edu

History of Lowell Observatory. Lowell Observatory was the first astronomical observatory in Arizona. In 1894, Percival Lowell, a mathematician and amateur astronomer from Massachusetts, was one of several astronomers in search of clearer skies through which to observe the planets and stars. Lowell hired A.E. Douglass to find an ideal site for the new observatory. After an intense but colorful scouting mission centered on what was then the Arizona Territory, Douglass found Flagstaff to be the best location with its good “seeing,” dark skies and high elevation. Spurring Lowell on was the knowledge that Mars would soon be at its closest point to the Earth an ideal time to continue the study of Mars more closely. Percival Lowell assembled a small staff, borrowed two telescopes and commenced observations.

Two years later, the specially designed 24-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope that Lowell had ordered, was installed. For many years, the Clark Telescope was the major research tool of Lowell Observatory. Percival Lowell’s many hours of observing Mars resulted in hundreds of drawings used to create “Mars globes.”

Today, Lowell astronomers observe at modern facilities on Anderson Mesa (they also use other research telescopes around the world). Located south of Flagstaff, Anderson Mesa was chosen as a dark sky research site since it has better astronomical seeing.  [Top]

Lowell Observatory Historic Library. The following items are on view for the public at the Lowell Observatory Historic Library.

• The blink comparator machine used to identify Pluto from photographed glass plates
• The spectrograph used by V.M. Slipher to measure radial velocity, which eventually led to the discovery that the universe is expanding
• Mars globes intricately hand-sketched by Percival Lowell himself
• Images of recent and historic Lowell Observatory discoveries, including research related to Mars, Pluto, globular star clusters, galaxies, moon mapping, comets, asteroids and planetary photography
• Many of Percival Lowell’s personal items, including old pictures, awards and his typewriter plus, the original Lowell Observatory Telescope
• Information about Lowell Observatory’s role in the Apollo moon missions, including a guest book signed by Neil Armstrong and other famous astronauts  [Top]

Lowell Observatory Hours

Daytime

November - February
12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.

March - October
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Evening

September - May  
Wednesday, Friday & Saturday - Open at 7:30 p.m.

June - August
Monday - Saturday - Open at 8:00 p.m.  [Top]