Guest blog by Michael T. Kitt
What could be more exciting than an inside look at an astronomical research facility? Lowell Observatory, located in Flagstaff, Arizona, is now offering a program developed specifically for astronomy clubs and groups. The field trip will provide a unique opportunity to visit Lowell’s satellite research facilities, which include the state-of-the-art 4.3-meter Discovery Channel telescope now being readied for first light, and the 72-inch Perkins telescope used for Dr. Vera Rubin’s pioneering dark matter research, and still remains a workhorse instrument of the observatory.
Groups will receive a behind-the-scenes look at the historic Mars Hill campus, the site where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. Weather permitting, visitors will have the opportunity to observe through the same 24-inch Alvan Clark refractor that sparked Percival Lowell’s boundless imagination. Attendees can also bring their own telescopes and observe the heavens at a site just a stone’s throw from the Clark dome, or use the observatory’s 16-inch Boller & Chivens reflector.
I developed the field trip program with a team of other amateur astronomers, in cooperation with Lowell's professional staff. Our goal was to design a program that will provide a memorable and educational experience. Recognizing that astronomy clubs have a diverse set of interests, an important objective was to ensure that we could customize each field trip to best meet the desires of each group. The possibilities are endless and could include a roundtable on a topic of the group's choice with a staff astronomer or a visit to the Lowell instrumentation shop, where technicians develop one-of-a-kind research equipment.
As a bonus to visitors, the area surrounding Flagstaff is one of the most fascinating in the world. A visit could include side trips to the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and the red-rock beauty of Sedona, all of which are located a short drive away. And Flagstaff itself is a great destination with Old West flavor and many museums, shops, and restaurants.
For information about a field trip for your group, please contact Rusty Tweed at 928-233-3267 or e-mail him at tweedr@lowell.edu.
Thanks for the information, Michael!