Lowell Observatory: Exploring the Cosmos from Flagstaff Since 1894
See where science and wonder meet under the Arizona sky.
By Arizona Preservation Foundation
Written by Reese Finnigan. Photos collected by Brook Crowell.
Percival Lowell (1914)Arizona Preservation Foundation
Percival Lowell and the birth of an observatory
Arizona is one of the best places in the world to observe the night skies. Astronomer Percival Lowell must have known this when he established his famous observatory in Flagstaff in 1894. A wealthy astronomer, Lowell was driven by a passion for Mars and deep space.
A 19th-century instrument still inspiring awe
Lowell Observatory is home to the Clark Telescope. The historic 24-inch refracting telescope has been used to study Mars, map the Moon, and captivate generations of stargazers.
A haven for discovery
Lowell Observatory has been the center of scientific discovery for decades. It was here that the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered in 1930. Researchers here also discovered the expansion of the universe, and discovery of rings around Uranus.
The Lowell Observatory remains active today, with several research telescopes currently in use by NASA and a number of private researchers. These researchers are conducting groundbreaking research on exoplanets, solar systems, and dark energy.
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One of the oldest observatories in the United States, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
Rooftop Planetarium at the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center (2024) by Abe SniderArizona Preservation Foundation
Protecting the skies around the observatory
Lowell helped inspire a movement to preserve dark skies, making Flagstaff a global leader in night sky conservation. The movement works to reduce light pollution, protecting starry nights and wildlife. In 2025, Flagstaff was named the world's first international dark sky city.
The red lights in many of these photos are a technique to help reduce light pollution.
Lowell Observatory (2025-03-13) by Hava HerzogArizona Preservation Foundation
Stargazing, science, and public engagement
Visitors can tour historic instruments, attend sky shows, and look through powerful telescopes on public observation nights. Lowell offers immersive programs for students, teachers, and families – passing its legacy of curiosity to new explorers.
The observatory also recently opened its Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center, featuring a rooftop “open planetarium," pictured previously.
Best in show
In March 2025, TIME named Lowell Observatory one of the "World's Top 100 Places." That same week, Newsweek's readers choice list of 10 best science museums in the United States ranked Lowell as number one.
In his explanation for this incredible accolade, travel journalist and TIME World's Top Places curator Nicholas Derenzo praised the observatory's interactivity, history, ecological impact, and connection to Route 66, among other things. He declared that it is "the ultimate luxury" to have a "dark slice of sky where you can look up, take a deep breath, and contemplate the vastness of the universe."
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Learn more about Lowell Observatory, and plan your visit here!
Written by Reese Finnigan. Photos collected by Reese Finnigan and Brook Crowell.
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