Lowell Observatory ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY CENTER

New visitor centre, opened November 2024

This new visitor centre in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA is the largest educational institution dedicated entirely to astronomy anywhere in the USA, and probably the world. The observatory has a colourful and fascinating history which has long made it popular with visitors, located in this beautiful location on a small hill just outside Flagstaff, a town with a historic centre that lies on Route 66 and the one of the main railroads that are still actively in use today.

I had arrived to oversee the final steps in the installation of my new commission, an interactive Light Wave sculpture that forms an eye catching feature at the front of the educational room with exhibits about astronomy. But as fate had arranged, I was also here just in time to attend the pre-opening event which was primarily for the benefit of the many sponsors who made it possible to build such a large and splendid place. Here you see the empty glasses being lined up ready for the evening, along with the first glimpse of my contribution through an archway.

The exhibits are primarily aimed at children, but children of all ages. I found myself learning things too, it is beautful and interestingly designed space.

The history is particularly fascinating. The founder of the observatory, Percival Lowell, became convinced that Mars was inhabited by an advanced intelligent race who had built a network of canals across the planet. He built the observatory specifically to gather evidence in support of this idea. At the time, in the very early years of the 20th century, astronomers still depended on their eyes to look through telescopes. Only a few years later photography was to improve to the point where it could be combined with a telescope. Disappointingly for Lowell, they revealed a planet without the complex patterns of canals he believed he had seen. None the less the observatory continued to thrive, Pluto was discovered here amongst other important discoveries, and while the prime location is now entirely a historical site, at another site not far away, modern telescopes are continuing the search for planets.

You can watch a video and find out more about this at

My Videos or on YouTube YouTube_channel=PaulFriedlander

Many thanks to

Dr David Schleicher, sponsor for my interactive Light Wave

The Marley Foundation, main sponsor the new centre

Many other sponsors, some listed above. Too many others to mention all.

Juan Tanus, exhibit design, keispace

David Noble, production manager