LOWELL OBSERVATORY

LOWELL OBSERVATORY'S PUBLIC PROGRAMS WERE IN FULL OPERATION THROUGHOUT 2024. THE BIG CHANGE IN 2024 WAS THAT AFTER FOUR YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION AND RAISING $53.6 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEW FACILITY, LOWELL OBSERVATORY CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE MARLEY FOUNDATION ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY CENTER (ADC) IN NOVEMBER 2024. THE ADC IS A PLACE THAT SPARKS CURIOSITY AND DISCOVERY FOR VISITORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. THE THREE-STORY, 40,200-SQUARE-FOOT ADC FEATURES A STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATER, EXHIBIT GALLERIES, AND A ROOFTOP AMPHITHEATER FOR EXPLORING FLAGSTAFF'S FAMOUSLY DARK SKIES. THE COST OF THE FACILITY WAS FUNDED BY PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS AND STATE GRANTS A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITIES AND A SHOW OF HOW MUCH SUCH A SCIENCE CENTER IS NEEDED IN NORTHERN ARIZONA. GENERAL ADMISSION OFFERINGS FOR OVER 90,000 VISITORS DURING 2024 INCLUDED REGULARLY SCHEDULED DAYTIME GUIDED TOURS OF THE MARS HILL CAMPUS AND NIGHTTIME DARK SKY TOURS. STAFF HOSTED OPEN HOUSES OF THE HISTORIC CLARK AND PLUTO TELESCOPES, AND PROVIDED REGULARLY SCHEDULED TALKS, DESCRIBING THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE DISCOVERY OF PLUTO, CURRENT ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH, THE LIFE CYCLE OF STARS AND OUTDOOR CONSTELLATION TALKS. SPECIAL TOURS AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED SMALL GROUP ACCESS TO THE 24-INCH DYER TELESCOPE AND INSTRUCTION IN ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY.PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ALSO GREW IN 2024. ROUGHLY 9,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN VISITED LOWELL AS PART OF SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. THE LOWELL OBSERVATORY ORBITS CURIOSITY CAMP PROGRAMS CONTINUED A DECADE-LONG GROWTH TREND IN THE SUMMER AND SERVED MORE THAN 275 CHILDREN, WITH A WAITING LIST OF OVER 50. THE NATIVE AMERICAN ASTRONOMY OUTREACH PROGRAM TEAM CONDUCTED CLASSROOM VISITS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND HOSTED CAMPS FOR STUDENTS.WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, THE OUTREACH TEAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ON-LINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. REGULAR OFFERINGS INCLUDED OPERATING TELESCOPES FOR THE "INTERACTIVE STARGAZING" SEGMENTS ON YOUTUBE AND PROVIDING CONTENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES REGARDING PHENOMENA IN THE NIGHT SKY. SPECIAL PROGRAMMING IN 2024 INCLUDED THE ANNUAL I HEART PLUTO FESTIVAL, THE APRIL TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE (HOSTED JOINTLY WITH DISCOVERY CHANNEL, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, AND THE CITY OF WACO, TX) AND LIVESTREAMS HIGHLIGHTING LUNAR ECLIPSES, METEOR SHOWERS, AND NATIONAL ASTRONOMY DAY.PRIVATE EVENTS AND FACILITY RENTALS WERE HOSTED AT LOWELL, WITH STRONG INTEREST IN THE SPACES IN THE NEW ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY CENTER.