Lowell Observatory sets the final gems in its crowning jewel.
With power tools and the precision of master craftspeople, the final gems are being meticulously set into what is being called the crown jewel of Northern Arizona. The Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center is scheduled to reveal its majestic science artistry and high-tech interactive exhibits Saturday, Nov. 16, in a grand opening with a grand view.
On the rooftop of the three-story building, chairs are lined up like moonstones, ready to be positioned into place to connect guests with the universe at an elevation of about 7,400 feet. These reclining, heated seats above the 40,000-square-foot, high-tech facility will offer an all-season, 360-degree immersion into the ponderosa pine forest by day and a cosmic journey of the mind from the open-air Rooftop Dark Sky Planetarium by night, along with a glass of wine if you like.
“At the Dark Sky Planetarium, we can show people where in the night sky are these things they might have heard about,” said David Noble, project manager for exhibits. “They might have heard about the Andromeda Galaxy. What is that? Where is that? You can actually see that with your naked eye. So, we can show people that it’s in this part of the sky. And then, we can reinforce that with images from the Lowell Observatory telescopes on the large screen and tell them, ‘This is what it looks like in true form.’”
The “large screen” is a two-story, 160° curved 16K LED screen in the 180-seat Lowell Universe Theater. It also has a ceiling LED screen and a stage for interactive presentations, combining elements of a planetarium with live shows.
“And then for the coup de grâce, you can go down to the [GODO] telescopes and actually see the Andromeda Galaxy through the eyepiece to make that connection. Now you know where in the sky you can see it and can say, ‘Yes, I’ve seen it for myself through a telescope,’” added Noble. “It sends chills through my body. It just connects me right to the universe.”
As the only facility of its kind, Lowell representatives say the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center is designed to offer a unique blend of multi-sensory, interactive experiences, cutting-edge technology and accessible learning that sets it apart on the international stage of astrotourism.
“At Lowell Observatory, we believe in the power of education to transform lives,” said Executive Director Jeff Hall, Ph.D., who has dedicated his career to world-class scientific research, public education and accessibility to universal exploration. “The center adds to Lowell’s mission to be incredibly accessible and an exciting place for people of all ages to discover the universe, and we hope it will ignite lifelong curiosity in everyone who comes through its doors.”
Already a key tourism attraction in Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory is projecting a massive increase in visitors. “The Discovery Center will not only be the crown jewel for Flagstaff, but also for the state and the country in astrotourism,” said Lowell Historian Kevin Schindler.
“It’s an exciting addition that will further solidify Flagstaff’s reputation as a premier destination for stargazing and astronomical research,” said Discovery Flagstaff Executive Director Trace Ward.
Lowell Observatory founder Bostonian astronomer Percival Lowell was compelled to come to the clear, dark skies of Flagstaff in the late 1800s to build an observatory and explore Mars. He believed the formations he saw through his telescope were canals, evidence of intelligent life. In the new Astronomy Discovery Center, one of his early drawings of Mars comes to life in a three-dimensional touchable globe that explains what he thought he was looking at.
“It’s very interesting to see his vision,” said Noble. “We’ve learned it’s not correct, but it really brings to life what he was thinking and what he believed Mars could have been.”
The Orbits Curiosity Zone is a two-story exhibit hall for children ages 0-8, although all ages are welcome. It offers a nursing room for moms and their babies, a space station that encourages exploration and a quiet space for being still and contemplative.
The Astronomy Gallery features activities for those age 9 and up. One exhibit allows guests to trace their atoms to the Big Bang, said Noble. “We’ve represented an image of you, pixelated so you can pick out individual atoms – a carbon atom, say, or an oxygen atom – and you can trace that atom’s journey back through the formation of the universe. It connects you with where your atoms came from.”
The Origins Gallery features a suspended artistic centerpiece depicting the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to life. “When scientists are dealing with subatomic particles in the lab, they [the particles] make these spiral trails, so that’s represented on the ceiling,” said Noble. “And then, soon after those were formed, individual atoms began to form. So, you have simple atoms and then more complex atoms. Soon after that, you’ve got stars beginning to form, beginning to shine and turn on. With stars, you’ve got planets like Earth and hopefully you’ve got life that is inhabiting these planets.”
The Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center also will include cultural murals, expressing the origins of the universe through Navajo and Hopi tribal traditions, a café and a transition zone where human eyes can adjust to the darkness of the night sky. In addition, glow stones embedded into the walkway will light a path in celestial designs leading to the GODO [Giovale Open Deck Observatory], the idea of philanthropist and longtime Lowell supporter Ginger Giovale.
Lowell planned the $53.4 million Astronomy Discovery Center and parking to support 250,000 visitors per year. Before the pandemic, the observatory was attracting about 110,000 guests annually.
“The current Steele Visitor Center was designed for about 60,000 visitors a year, allowing us to triple our attendance from the previous one-room visitor center,” said Schindler. “This new Discovery Center is designed to do the same thing.”
Lowell Observatory’s newest masterpiece stands poised to allow the universe to shine brighter than ever. With the last gems carefully set, the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center promises to be a beacon of exploration, inviting visitors from all over the globe to uncover the wonders of the cosmos. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Photo by Bonnie Stevens: The Orbits Curiosity Zone is a two-story educational exhibit hall where children are encouraged to play, jump, explore and even settle down into a quiet space.