Using power tools and the precision of skilled craftsmen, the final jewelry is meticulously installed in what has been called a Northern Arizona treasure. The Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center will unveil its spectacular scientific artistry and high-tech interactive exhibits at a grand opening with spectacular views on Saturday, November 16th.

On the roof of the three-story building, chairs are lined up like moonstones, ready to connect guests to the universe at an altitude of 7,400 feet. Located atop a 40,000-square-foot high-tech facility, these reclining and heated seats offer an all-season, 360-degree Ponderosa pine forest immersion by day, and an outdoor rooftop dark sky that provides a cosmic journey for the mind. Masu. You can enjoy the planetarium at night. Enjoy a glass of wine of your choice.

“With the Dark Sky Planetarium, we can show people where these things they’ve heard of are located in the night sky,” said David Noble, exhibition project manager. “They may have heard of the Andromeda galaxy. What is it? Where is it? You can actually see it with the naked eye. So it shows people that it’s in this part of the sky. And we can put the image from the Lowell Observatory telescope on a big screen and highlight it and say, “This is what it really looks like.”

The “big screen” is a two-story, 160-degree curved 16K LED screen located in the 180-seat Lowell Universe Theater. It also features ceiling LED screens and a stage for interactive presentations that combine planetarium and live show elements.

“And for the best performance, you can go to: [GODO] Using a telescope, we will actually look at the Andromeda Galaxy through the eyepiece and establish its relationship. Now you know where in the sky you can see it and you can say, ‘Yes, I’ve seen it myself through a telescope,'” Noble added. “I get chills all over my body. It just connects me directly to the universe.”

According to Lowell representatives, the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center is the only facility of its kind, featuring multisensory interactive experiences, cutting-edge technology, and an accessible and accessible facility that stands out on the international astrotourism stage. It is said to be designed to offer a unique combination of easy learning.

“At Lowell Observatory, we believe in the power of education to change lives,” said Executive Director Dr. Jeff Hall, who has dedicated his career to world-class scientific research, public education, and universal exploration accessibility. “This center will further strengthen Lowell’s mission of being an incredibly accessible and exciting place for people of all ages to discover the universe, and will be a great opportunity for everyone who walks through the center’s doors. I hope it sparks a lifelong curiosity.”

Lowell Observatory is already a major tourist attraction in northern Arizona, and a significant increase in visitor numbers is expected. “The Discovery Center will not only be a crown jewel for Flagstaff, but a crown jewel for our state and nation in space tourism,” said Lowell historian Kevin Schindler.

“This is an exciting addition that further solidifies Flagstaff’s reputation as a premier destination for stargazing and astronomical research,” said Discovery Flagstaff Executive Director Trace Ward. Ta.

Boston astronomer Percival Lowell, founder of Lowell Observatory, was forced to come to clear, dark-sky Flagstaff in the late 1800s to build an observatory and explore Mars. He believed that the geological formations he saw through his telescope were canals and evidence of intelligent life. At the new Astronomy Discovery Center, one of his earliest drawings of Mars comes to life with a three-dimensional, touchable globe that explains what he thought he was seeing.

“It’s very interesting to see his vision,” Noble said. “We learned that wasn’t right, but it really brings to life what he thought and what he believed Mars could be.”

Orbitz Curiosity Zone is a two-story exhibit hall aimed at children ages 0 to 8, but all ages are welcome. It offers a nursing room for mothers and their babies, a space station that encourages exploration, and a quiet space for quiet meditation.

The Astronomy Gallery has activities for ages 9 and up. Noble said one exhibit allows guests to trace atoms back to the Big Bang. “We’ve created a pixelated representation of your image, so we can pick out individual atoms, such as carbon and oxygen atoms, and trace back how those atoms led to the formation of the universe. It connects you to where your atoms came from.”

The Origins Gallery features hanging artistic centerpieces depicting the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to life. “When scientists work with elementary particles in the laboratory, they [the particles] We create a spiral path, so that is represented in the ceiling,” Noble said. “And as soon as they were formed, individual atoms started forming, so there were simple atoms, and then there were more complex atoms. Soon after that, stars started forming, shining, It starts to light up. If there are stars, then there are planets like Earth, and hopefully there is life on these planets.”

The Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center will also include cultural murals depicting the origins of the universe through Navajo and Hopi traditions, a cafe, and a transition zone for the human eye to adjust to the darkness of the night sky. Additionally, glow stones embedded in the walkway illuminate the celestial pattern path leading to GODO. [Giovale Open Deck Observatory]the idea of ​​philanthropist and longtime Lowell supporter Ginger Giovare.

Lowell planned a $53.4 million Astronomy Discovery Center and parking garage to support 250,000 visitors a year. Before the pandemic, the observatory had about 110,000 visitors a year.

“The current Steel Visitor Center was designed for approximately 60,000 visitors per year, allowing us to triple the number of visitors compared to our previous one-room visitor center,” Schindler said. states. “This new Discovery Center is designed to do the same thing.”

Lowell Observatory’s latest masterpiece is poised to allow the universe to shine brighter than ever before. With its final jewel carefully set, the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center promises to be a beacon of exploration, inviting visitors from around the world to uncover the wonders of the universe. FBN

Bonnie Stevens, FBN

Photo by Bonnie Stevens: Orbitz Curiosity Zone is a two-story educational exhibit hall where kids can play, jump, explore, or even settle into a quiet space.