Lowell Observatory

How Do We Find Earth 2.0? | Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell
2025-03-28 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Phoenix) | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

How Do We Find Earth 2.0?
Are we alone in the universe? The answer may be right around the corner! Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell will guide you through the tools and techniques of exoplanet hunting, what questions astronomers at Lowell and beyond are asking right now, and what’s next in our quest to find other life out there.
Dr. Richey-Yowell joined Lowell Observatory in 2022 as a postdoctoral fellow, focusing on the early evolution of low-mass stars—those smaller than our Sun—and their impact on orbiting planets. Using both ground- and space-based instruments in the UV, optical, and infrared, she studies the complex atmospheres of stars and the potential for habitable exoplanets. With the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope, Dr. Richey-Yowell is unraveling the mysteries of stellar evolution to deepen our understanding of these fascinating systems.
* Worlds Revealed Speaker Series included with general admission

Meet an Astronomer
2025-03-29 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-04-19 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-04-26 19:00 - 22:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
This Saturday, come up to Mars Hill and meet an Astronomer!*
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event takes place every Saturday at 7pm and is included with an all-day general admission ticket.
*Event subject to astronomer availability

Things that go bump in the night - Conjunctions, Eclipses, Transits, and Occultations | Dr. Larry Wasserman
2025-04-11 17:00 - 18:00 | AZ
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series
Things that go bump in the night – Conjunctions, Eclipses, Transits, and Occultations
Occasionally, two objects in the night sky get close to each other. What are these events and what can we learn by observing them? These events can provide us with quite a bit of interesting science if we know what to look for.

* Worlds Revealed Speaker Series included with general admission

A Scientific Search for Alien Artifacts | Dr. Simon Steel
2025-04-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

From Martian Canals to Dyson Swarms – A Scientific Search for Alien Artifacts
First contact with alien civilizations won’t be with the beings themselves, but with their technology. By searching for these extraterrestrial artifacts, we embark on a journey through our solar system, galaxy, and beyond. What are we looking for—and how will we recognize it when we find it?
Dr. Simon Steel, Deputy Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, is an expert in astrophysics and science education. A former Harvard lecturer, he originally hails from the English town that famously resisted H.G. Wells’ Martian invasion of 1899.
* Worlds Revealed Speaker Series included with general admission

Member Meteor Madness
2025-04-21 22:00 - 23:59 | AZ
Member Meteor Madness is a member exclusive event is on April 21st. Members will have special after-hours access the Giovale Open Deck Observatory and the Dark Sky Planetarium from 10pm-12am while the Lyrid meteor shower is at its peak. Members check your email for more information!
Learn more about becoming a member at lowell.edu/membership and enjoy Member Meteor Madness and more events!

Saving the Night | Protecting Dark Skies in Our National Parks
2025-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | YouTube
Join Lowell Observatory and Grand Canyon Conservancy for a free, expert-led virtual panel discussion exploring the urgent need to preserve natural night skies.
This live-streamed event features former Grand Canyon Astronomers in Residence Dean Regas, Lauren Camp, and Kevin Schindler, along with Dark Sky Ranger Rader Lane. Together, they’ll dive into topics like dark sky conservation, the harmful effects of artificial light pollution, and the future of stargazing in our national parks.

The Fates of Planetary Systems | Dr. Taylor Kutra
2025-04-25 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series
The Fates of Planetary Systems with Dr. Taylor Kutra
Have you ever wondered what happens to planets like Earth after their sun reaches the end of its life cycle? The outlook is bleak—but there is evidence that some planetary material, from asteroids to comets and even full-fledged planets, can survive this tumultuous period.
In this talk, Lowell postdoctoral fellow Dr. Taylor Kutra will talk about the challenges faced by Earth-like planets when their stars begin to die, and show the evidence that in some cases, planets can survive.
* Worlds Revealed Speaker Series included with general admission

Weightless in Space: Perspectives of Earth From A Suborbital Space Flight
2025-05-02 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Universe Theater, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Weightless in Space: Perspectives of Earth From A Suborbital Space Flight
On October 6, 2023, Ron Rosano flew into space on Virgin Galactic’s Galactic04 mission, fulfilling a childhood dream and gaining a unique perspective of our planet suspended in the black vastness of space. Join Ron for video and photo highlights from the space flight, with descriptions of what it’s like to have a rocket fire you through the sky, to float weightless in a spaceship, and to see our Earth from high above the thin blue line of our atmosphere. There will be plenty of time for Q&A.
About Ron Rosano
Ron Rosano flew into space on a suborbital flight with Virgin Galactic on October 6, 2023, and has pursued a passion of space travel and astronomy outreach with schools and with the public since 1995.
In awe of the starry sky since he was a child and inspired by the Apollo Moon landings, Ron has closely followed NASA and other space missions for as long as he can remember. He has parlayed this passion into extensive astronomy education outreach as an informal educator for more than 30 years, meeting in person and online with more than 240 schools in 20 countries. Ron is the creator and editor of the Suborbital Flight Journal, a complete record of all human suborbital flights.

Member Event: Lowell Discovery Telescope | Virtual Tour & Talk
2025-05-03 11:00 | YouTube
Lowell Discovery Telescope | Virtual Tour & Talk
Join us for a virtual tour of the Lowell Discovery Telescope, followed by a brief presentation on current research being performed with this world-class instrument. Dr. Stephen Levine will present live from Happy Jack, the site of the 4.3 meter Lowell Discovery Telescope, and Dr. Joe Llama will join us from Flagstaff to talk about his current research. Learn why the LDT is called “the Swiss Army knife of telescopes” and how Lowell is keeping this telescope relevant in a rapidly changing technological world. There will be an opportunity for Q&A, so bring your questions for both Joe and Stephen!

Exploring Titan: Lakes, Seas and Clouds of Methane | Dr. Jennifer Hanley
2025-05-09 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series
Exploring Titan: Lakes, Seas and Clouds of Methane
with Dr. Jennifer Hanley
Of all the objects in our solar system, which one is most like Earth? The answer might surprise you.
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, shares some remarkable traits with our home planet. It’s the only other place in the solar system with stable surface liquids, a thick atmosphere, and a climate shaped by seasonal change. Join planetary scientist Dr. Jennifer Hanley in the Universe Theater on May 9 as she explores Titan’s fascinating methane cycle, complete with clouds, rain, rivers, and seas.
* Worlds Revealed Speaker Series included with general admission

Meet an Astronomer | Dr. Gerard van Belle
2025-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet an Astronomer | Dr. Gerard van Belle
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, May 10 to meet Lowell astronomer Dr. Gerard van Belle!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with an all-day general admission ticket.

A Very Special Community Showing of “Imagine the Universe”
2025-05-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Lowell Universe Theater, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
A Very Special Community Showing of “Imagine the Universe”
Join us for a very special community showing of “Imagine the Universe,” a live play created for Lowell’s Universe Theater.
The show will be followed by 7pm panel, presented by Big in Arizona Films: “Behind-the-Scenes on Film Production for the Big Screen inside Lowell’s Universe Theater.” This panel will feature the cast and crew from the local filmmaking team who created “Imagine the Universe.”
Panel Topics:
– Landing on the Red Planet: Building a small Mars set for the Big Screen
– Large Format filmmaking: Shooting with 8K+ cameras, anamorphic lenses, at 60 frames per second
– Indigenous authenticity: On the page, inside the animation, behind the camera
Come out and support the local film production and learn about how they made this show!

Potatoes, Peanuts, and Diamonds: How Asteroids Get Their Shapes
2025-05-23 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Universe Theater, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Potatoes, Peanuts, and Diamonds: How Asteroids Get Their Shapes
Asteroids aren’t just space rocks—they come in some surprisingly familiar forms! From lumpy potatoes to spinning tops and peanut-shaped pairs, these celestial oddballs showcase the wild variety of shapes that exist beyond Earth. In this talk, discover what causes such diversity, how scientists measure these strange forms, and why so many of them happen to look like objects from your kitchen counter. You’ll never look at a peanut the same way again.

About Nick
Dr. Nick Moskovitz is an astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. His research is related to small bodies in the Solar System with active projects related to the origin and evolution of asteroids, comets, and meteors.

Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
2025-05-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, May 24 to meet Lowell planetary astronomer Dr. Larry Wasserman!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with a general admission ticket.

Astronomy on Tap: Chaos Across the Solar System
2025-05-27 18:30 - 21:00 | Mother Road Brewing Co., 7 S Mikes Pike St, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Astronomy on Tap: Chaos Across the Solar System
Join Lowell Observatory and Mother Road Brewing Co. on May 27th at 6:30pm for Astronomy on Tap!
This month’s speaker is Lowell researcher Dr. Teddy Kareta, who will be talking about chaos from the evening weather forecast to the chance of an asteroid hitting the Earth a few decades from now, the inherent unpredictability of complex systems — affects our lives in more ways than we can count. In this fun and accessible talk, Dr. Teddy Kareta will build on the goofy outline of chaos that Jeff Goldblum’s character gives in Jurassic Park to explore all the ways that chaos plays out across the solar system — and what it says for the future of the Earth.
We’ll hold trivia after the talk, where you”ll have the chance to win some fun prizes. As always, there will be plenty of Mother Road brews on tap to enjoy! We’ll see you there!

Webs and Flows | Dr. Mark Neyrinck
2025-06-06 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

Webs and Flows: The Cosmic Web’s Relation to River Networks, Slime Molds, and Other Flow Networks
The cosmic web is the universe-wide flow network that carries gas and dark matter into galaxies and clusters of galaxies. This network is unimaginably vast, but bears a surprising resemblance to Earthly systems like the brain, body, plants, and river networks.

Dr. Mark Neyrinck will discuss these relationships, focusing on the river networks and their research using the concept of an “intergalactic rainstorm.”
Read all about Dr. Mark Neyrinck here: skysrv.pha.jhu.edu/~neyrinck/

*This talk is included with general admission*

Meet an Astronomer | Dr. Tyler Richie-Yowell
2025-06-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet an Astronomer | Dr. Tyler Richie-Yowell
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, June 7 to meet Lowell astronomer Dr. Tyler Richie-Yowell!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with a general admission ticket.

Art in the Universe | Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell
2025-06-13 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

Art in the Universe
What does art have to do with science? One might think these are two completely different fields, but in reality art and science are both ways we explore the world around us. Join Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell as she shows us how artistic principles are essential to scientific discovery.

*This talk is included with general admission*

Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
2025-06-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, June 14 to meet Lowell planetary astronomer Dr. Larry Wasserman!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with a general admission ticket.

Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
2025-06-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, June 21 to meet Lowell planetary astronomer Dr. Larry Wasserman!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with a general admission ticket.

Starry Night Piano Concert
2025-06-22 19:00 | AZ
Starry Night Piano Concert
Sunday, June 22, 2025
7PM | Lowell Observatory—Astronomy Discovery Center
Lowell Observatory General Admission Required
Join us between stargazing and astronomy immersion for the unique experience of enjoying a classical piano concert under the magnificent Flagstaff stars! Presented by Flagstaff Piano Festival in partnership with Lowell Observatory, this concert features young artists participating in the weeklong Flagstaff Piano Festival Academy at Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff Piano Festival takes place at the NAU Kitt School of Music between June 21–28, 2025. More details at www.flagstaffpianofestival.com.

Buy Tickets Now

Astronomy on Tap: How to Build a Planet with Two Suns
2025-06-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Mother Road Brewing Co., 7 S Mikes Pike St, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Astronomy on Tap: How to Build a Planet with Two Suns with Dr. Taylor Kutra
Planet formation is never simple—but what happens when you throw a second star into the mix? Join Lowell astronomer Dr. Taylor Kutra for a fascinating look at how planets form in the most common stellar environments: multiple star systems. While most planet formation theories are based on single stars, the reality is that most stars are born with companions. Dr. Kutra will dive into her research on young, tightly bound binary systems, where evolving circumstellar and circumbinary disks create an even more chaotic stage for planet birth. These small systems may be hard to spot, but they offer big clues—and big challenges—for our understanding of planetary origins.

Chasing Shadows—Occultations | Dr. Larry Wasserman
2025-06-27 17:00 - 18:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

Chasing Shadows—Occultations (which have nothing to do with the occult) with Dr. Larry Wasserman
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. Each talk is approximately 45 minutes.

*This talk is included with general admission*

Hubble and Webb Telescopes | Dean Regas
2025-06-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

Hubble and Webb Telescopes with Dean Regas
Join astronomer and author Dean Regas as he shares the greatest pictures taken by the greatest space telescopes: Hubble and Webb. Explore star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and more as we delve into the deepest parts of the universe. Great for all ages.
Dean Regas’ bio: astrodean.com/about

*This talk is included with general admission*

Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
2025-06-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet a Planetary Astronomer | Dr. Larry Wasserman
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, June 28 to meet Lowell planetary astronomer Dr. Larry Wasserman!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with a general admission ticket.

Asteroid Day 2025
2025-06-30 11:00 - 23:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Asteroid Day 2025
Join us for Asteroid Day as Meteor Crater and Lowell Observatory team up for a cosmic celebration in Flagstaff, Arizona! Explore the world’s best-preserved impact site—Meteor Crater—and dive into the science of near-Earth asteroids at the observatory that’s discovered over 30,000 of them. This one-day event features expert talks, behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on science demos, food trucks, and telescope viewing under the stars. Don’t miss this stellar day of space, science, and impact!
Visit AsteroidDayAZ.com to learn more!

Meet an Astronomer | Dr. Gerard van Belle
2025-07-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Giovale Open Deck Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Meet an Astronomer | Dr. Gerard van Belle
Head up to the Open Deck Observatory on Saturday, July 5 to meet Lowell astronomer Dr. Gerard van Belle!
Take a peek at real-time images of planets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects to be displayed on a large television screen outdoors with our new MallinCam. This is your opportunity to see interesting objects in the night sky, learn about an astronomer’s research, and ask questions you might have about any topic in astronomy. This event is included with a general admission ticket.

How to Build a Planet When You Have Two Suns | Dr. Taylor Kutra
2025-07-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, United States
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series

How to Build a Planet When You Have Two Suns with Dr. Taylor Kutra
Planet formation is already a messy, complex process—and that’s in the “simple” case of a single star. But most stars don’t form alone. The majority are born in multiple star systems, meaning that if we want to understand how planets form across the Galaxy, we need to figure out what happens when stars have companions. In this talk, Dr. Taylor Kutra explores how the presence of a second star—especially in young, close binary systems—complicates an already messy process. She’ll share insights from her recent work characterizing tiny, evolving circumstellar and circumbinary disks. These systems may be small, but they punch well above their weight in challenging our theories of how planets come to be.

*This talk is included with general admission*
