Experience Stargazing, Reimagined
The Giovale Open Deck Observatory at Lowell Observatory features one of the finest collections of public telescopes in the world. This 4,300-square-foot, open-air plaza houses six advanced telescopes, ranging from 5.5 to 32 inches in diameter, each chosen for a distinct purpose so that every corner of the night sky is within reach.
Look through the wide-field refractor for sweeping star fields, the Victorian-style Moonraker refractor for close-up views of the Moon and planets, or the 32-inch Dobsonian reflector for detailed observations of nebulae and galaxies. One telescope even features a live color video camera that captures deep-sky objects in real time — revealing color and structure the human eye alone can’t detect.
Under the famously dark skies of Flagstaff, the experience goes well beyond stargazing. The observatory also features daytime exhibits on spectroscopy, telescope types, and dark sky preservation, and a giant interactive planisphere — making it a destination worth visiting day or night.
