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This Month in Astronomy: September 2021

For some, August marks the end of summer vacation and the beginning of a new school year. For others, it’s yet another month of exciting astronomical events! Read on to learn more about what’s going on in the past and present of astronomy this month.

Infinite Wonders Await at The Astronomy Discovery Center

Something big is coming to Mars Hill—a brand new visitor center! Construction on the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center (ADC) is underway, with plans to open by […]

This Month in Astronomy | August 2021

For some, August marks the end of summer vacation and the beginning of a new school year. For others, it’s yet another month of exciting astronomical events! Read on to learn more about what’s going on in the past and present of astronomy this month.

Clark 125th Anniversary: First Light Celebration 2021

On July 23, 1896, Lowell Observatory’s 24-inch Clark Refractor saw first light. Thus began the life of one of the world’s most storied telescopes. We’re celebrating this milestone with another […]

This Month in Astronomy | July 2021

As any astronomy enthusiast knows, there’s far more to see in the summer sky than fireworks. Constellations like Leo, Virgo, and Ursa Major will soon come into view, along with […]

This Week in Astronomy History: June 7-13

Photo: A painting of Pioneer 10’s flyby of Jupiter | Rick Guidice June 8, 1625: Giovanni Cassini born Italian astronomer Giovanni Cassini was born in the municipality of Perinaldo (located […]

Secrets of Lowell: The Putnam Collection Center

Photo: The exterior of the Putnam Collection Center | Sarah Gilbert Room to Grow In 2010, Lowell Observatory was facing a storage issue. The Slipher Building’s attic and basement were […]

This Week in Astronomy History: May 31-June 6

Photo: George Ellery Hale’s widow, Evelina Hale, looks through the eyepiece of the Hale Telescope during its dedication ceremony in 1966 | Associated Press June 2, 1966: Surveyor 1 soft-lands […]

This Week in Astronomy History: May 24-30

Photo: The dome of the Clark Refractor, the same dome–with some modifications–that still stands on Mars Hill today. The Clark dome was built in 1896 and set up at Lowell […]

Secrets of Lowell: The Slipher Building

Photo: The Rotunda Museum and Slipher Building, photographed for the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1994 | Brian Grogan, Historic American Buildings Survey Due north of the Steele Visitor Center, […]

May 11, 1967: Lunar Orbiter 4 begins photographing the Moon Lunar Orbiter 4 was robotic craft launched as part of NASA’s Lunar Orbiter Program. The orbiter was the fourth in […]

View from Mars Hill: 125 years and counting — the 24-inch Clark Telescope

Photo: Ralph Nye led the restoration project of the 24-inch Clark Telescope that Percival Lowell used to map the surface of Mars. The telescope was also used to make maps […]