Worlds Revealed Speaker Series: No Rockets Required

No Rockets Required: How We Built a Lunar Landscape in Northern Arizona with Dr. Amber Gullikson

Terrestrial analog sites are like test-driving another planet—right here on Earth. Scientists use these locations to recreate alien environments, where they can try out new technologies, study how landscapes form, and practice how humans and robots will explore unfamiliar terrain. Often set in rugged, remote places, these sites let researchers solve problems and refine their tools long before leaving Earth—saving time, money, and a lot of risk—while also giving the public a chance to see space exploration up close. Built in the 1960s to look like the Moon, the Cinder Lake crater fields near Flagstaff, Arizona, are one of these unique sites. With its flat, ash-covered surface, Cinder Lake became a stand-in for the lunar landscape, where astronauts learned how to navigate and do fieldwork without obvious landmarks—an essential skill in a place where GPS doesn’t exist. Still used for training and research, this site helps prepare the next generation for missions to the Moon and Mars while preserving an important piece of space exploration history.

Step into a universe of discovery with Worlds Revealed, Lowell Observatory’s exclusive speaker series. This engaging program invites diverse staff and experts to share their unique perspectives, bridging the gap between science, art, and exploration. Learn about exciting topics like the intersection of music and astronomy, the operations behind our world-class telescopes, or unexpected connections like animals and stars, Worlds Revealed offers a captivating inside look at the ideas and stories that inspire wonder and shape our understanding of the cosmos.