Lowell Observatory

Continuing a more than 125-year-long legacy of astronomical discovery, Lowell Observatory astronomers, planetary scientists, and other researchers conducted forefront research in many areas of astronomy -- from the sun and our solar system to exoplanets, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. In 2022, Lowell researchers published 114 peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals, along with another 82 papers in other venues. They also gave numerous presentations at scientific conferences and public outreach events and participated in major scientific missions using world-leading telescopes across the globe and in space. Lowell scientific staff continue to be very successful at obtaining grants in support of their research from nasa, the national science foundation, and other agencies. The 4.3-meter Lowell discovery telescope (ldt) delivered approximately 277 science nights used by Lowell staff, as well as astronomers at our partner institutions: boston university, northern Arizona university, university of Maryland, university of toledo, and yale university. In total, the ldt featured prominently in 59 scientific or technical publications. The ldt's growing suite of state-of-the-art instruments, such as the high-precision spectrograph expres, enable cutting edge research across multiple fields, including the search for exoplanets. Lowell Observatory also continued to operate other smaller telescopes at its anderson mesa site and has begun the process of replacing its antiquated 31" telescope with a modern 1-meter telescope. Access to local telescopes equipped with world-class instruments has enabled science that could not be done elsewhere. In addition, the Observatory is undertaking a dramatic expansion of its main campus on mars hill, including preliminary design work for a new technical services building that will greatly increase the instrumentation and engineering capabilities of its technical staff. Finally, Lowell Observatory also engaged in a strong program of research and development aimed at new technologies to benefit its observing facilities and the larger astronomical community.

Lowell Observatory's public programs operated throughout 2022 in much the way they did prior to the pandemic, thanks to successfully following the phased re-opening of programs in 2021. General admission offerings included regularly scheduled daytime guided tours of the mars hill campus, and nighttime dark sky tours. In tandem, staff hosted open houses of the historic clark and pluto telescopes, and provided scheduled talks, including ones describing the history and importance of the discovery of pluto, current astronomical research on extra-solar planets, the life cycle of stars and outdoor constellation talks. School group field trips to Lowell were busy and the Lowell Observatory camps for kids programs continued in the summer and served more than 200 children. Special tours and programs provided small group access to the 24inch dyer telescope. Working in collaboration with the marketing and communications department, the outreach team continued to provide on-line educational programming. Regular offerings included "star stuff" podcasts, "interactive stargazing", and "mars hill almanac," as well as a monthly series celebrating the 10th anniversary of the first light of the 4.3-meter Lowell discovery telescope. Special programming in 2022 included the annual i heart pluto festival (in hybrid form), the popular messier marathon, and livestreams highlighting lunar eclipses, meteor showers, and national astronomy day. The native american astronomy outreach program (naaop) team conducted their classroom visits throughout the school year and hosted summer and winter camps for students. Lowell educators returned to the flagstaff family food center (fffc) to lead science activities for the children that fffc serves. These visits occurred every other week from january through december. The Observatory also participated in several local outreach events, including the flagstaff star party and science in the park. Private events and facility rentals were hosted at Lowell, and the events team pulled off several successful events both on and off-campus. The kemper and ethel marley foundation astronomy discovery center (adc) at Lowell Observatory will be a place of curiosity and discovery for visitors worldwide. After three years of construction and raising $53.6 million dollars for the new building, Lowell Observatory expects to celebrate a grand opening in november 2024. The three-story, 40,000-square-foot adc will feature a state-of-the-art theater, exhibit galleries, and a rooftop amphitheater for exploring flagstaff's famously dark skies. The entirety of the building was funded through the support of donors and state-funded grants a testament to the incredible amount of support from our communities and a show of how much such a science center was needed in northern Arizona. In preparation for the adc, teams across the Observatory have come together to plan everything from programming, exhibit design, interpretive signage needs, branding, and guest traffic flow. Marketing videos were released, giving viewers an animated tour as a look into the building ahead of its opening. This has been a truly collaborative effort to ensure all department voices are represented.