We discovered the Lowell Observatory after spending the night in Flagstaff on our way to Oklahoma one summer. Evert recalled having seen photographs in one of his astronomy books that were taken at the Lowell Observatory. We asked our server at breakfast about the observatory and discovered it was just a mile down the street. Of course we had to stop.
The Lowell Observatory was a wonderful find. Percival Lowell, a wealthy mathematician from an old Boston family, placed it on a hill with the specific purpose of observing Mars when it had a rare conjunction with Earth in 1894. He was convinced there was life on Mars and wanted to be in the best possible place to observe the planet. The site where he set up a 24” refractor is known as Mars Hill.
Lowell also wanted to search for “Planet X”, a hypothetical ninth planet. A systematic search began in 1906. A special telescope called an astrograph was competed 1929. The astrograph was dedicated to finding Planet X. By comparing overlaid glass plates, Clyde Tombaugh was able to see one object that moved in relation to the fixed stars. Pluto was finally discovered in 1930. Today Lowell Observatory operates multiple telescopes at several sites near Flagstaff. It is owned and operated by a private, non-profit organization with a focus on research and public outreach.
The Lowell Observatory was a wonderful find. Percival Lowell, a wealthy mathematician from an old Boston family, placed it on a hill with the specific purpose of observing Mars when it had a rare conjunction with Earth in 1894. He was convinced there was life on Mars and wanted to be in the best possible place to observe the planet. The site where he set up a 24” refractor is known as Mars Hill.
Lowell also wanted to search for “Planet X”, a hypothetical ninth planet. A systematic search began in 1906. A special telescope called an astrograph was competed 1929. The astrograph was dedicated to finding Planet X. By comparing overlaid glass plates, Clyde Tombaugh was able to see one object that moved in relation to the fixed stars. Pluto was finally discovered in 1930. Today Lowell Observatory operates multiple telescopes at several sites near Flagstaff. It is owned and operated by a private, non-profit organization with a focus on research and public outreach.
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The dome of the original telescope rotates on 1955 Ford tires.
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This holds the astrograph telescope and is where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto.