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We've been to Flagstaff so many times now, but never got a chance to visit the Observatory. My son host a huge fan of physics and space wanted to visit this place. We went just before two hours of the closing time and wish we came in a little earlier. This three floor observatory is so beautiful and informative from the gigantic telescope to play area for the kids it is a must visit for everyone. Our favorite part was looking at the galaxies from the large telescope in the night. We got to see the nebula and it was so cool. It just made us feel how tiny we are in this massive space. I loved how once you buy the tickets you could step out and come back so that's a great advantage to take specially when you want to do both during the day and the night.

If Yelp allowed it, I'd give Lowell Observatory a billion stars... mostly because that's about how many we actually saw. The dark skies over Flagstaff reveal more stars than Hollywood on Oscar night. Seriously, you look up and suddenly realize the universe has been showing off this whole time and you've just been missing the show. The telescopes were the real headliners. One was locked onto Jupiter, and we could see it in crystal clarity along with three of its moons just casually hanging out like cosmic roadies. Another telescope pointed us toward the Pleiades--also known as the Seven Sisters--which looked like the universe spilled a little glitter across the sky. The staff deserve their own constellation. Knowledgeable, friendly, and incredibly helpful, they explained everything without making the rest of us feel like we'd failed Astronomy 101. The outdoor show was informative, fun, and moved so quickly we almost forgot we were sitting in the cold... almost. Let's just say the temperature was sub-planetary, but the experience was stellar. Bottom line: if you're anywhere near Flagstaff, orbit on over to Lowell Observatory. It's an out-of-this-world experience that will leave you starry-eyed and over the moon.

This is honestly the first observatory I've ever been to in my life, and it was very nice. They had a kids play area where you could hang out and spend probably all day with your kids playing different things. I'm going down the slide to shooting up rocket ships and learning about different things in science and how they work. We also got to go to the area right next to it, which is more of an adult style learning, but also interactive for kids where there are more and more interactive questions that it ask and things that you're able to get hands-on with in this additional learning area, where a really teaches you about space and the stars of many other things I really enjoyed taking my family too experiences. We also got to take time to go outside around 9 o'clock and look through the telescope to see the moon very awesome and they had another telescope pointing at Saturn and my wife got to look through that one and she said it was just amazing because you could see the rings of Saturn. Overall, we really love this experience. It's a little more expensive than I anticipated, but it was a great experience and they had so much more than I talked about right here. Great things to learn videos that they play as you walk through and sit down and learn about space and so much more. It is a terrific place very friendly staff when you walk in and we honestly met people from all over the world coming to this very location so that was very amazing to have forever in this area. Don't hesitate to stop on in and do a little stargazing.

I put together a "maximum-value visitor itinerary" designed around a typical summer operating day (1:00 PM-11:00 PM) at Lowell Observatory. My goal was to experience every major exhibit, historic telescope, open house, science gallery, solar activity, planetarium experience, and nighttime observing opportunity while still enjoying a relaxed single meal break on site. The schedule follows Lowell's published daytime and nighttime offerings, placing solar activities in daylight and telescope observing after dark. Recreate at your own risk. Confirm events & showtimes before arriving. Purchase tickets online well in advance. Lowell is popular! Stay hydrated. Wear supportive shoes. Bring jackets or blankets for the nighttime rooftop planetarium show. Lowell Observatory Ultimate Visitor Day Itinerary (1:00 PM - 11:00 PM) 12:15 PM | Flagstaff Vista *Park at the roadside pullout, adjacent to Mars Hill Road & just feet from the campus entrance *Enjoy bird's eye views of Flagstaff area & pine forests 12:45 PM | Arrival & Mission Planning Check in, obtain the daily schedule, reserve any timed experiences if required, pick up a campus map, and visit restrooms before beginning. Goal: no backtracking later. 1:10 PM - 1:55 PM | Astronomy Discovery Center Explore the Stardust Lab Gallery, interactive exhibits, cosmology displays, exoplanet exhibits, and hands-on science stations. 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - We Are Stars Immersive film explaining the origin of stars and the elements that make up planets, life, and ourselves. 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Solar Viewing - Giovale Open Deck Observatory Use daylight for solar telescopes, sunspot viewing, solar prominence discussions, and telescope demonstrations. 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Cosmic Highways: A Centennial Tour Focus on Solar System exploration and major astronomical discoveries. 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Historic District Exploration Walk through Percival Lowell's observing grounds, historic architecture, outdoor exhibits, and Mars Hill viewpoints. 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Origins of Lowell Learn about Percival Lowell, the observatory's founding, the search for Planet X, and the discovery of Pluto. 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Pluto Discovery Experience Visit the Pluto Astrograph, Clyde Tombaugh exhibits, and Planet X interpretation areas. 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Meet the Planets An overview of the Solar System before nighttime observing begins. 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM | Dinner Break - Planet X Café Enjoy a 45-minute meal, hydrate, review the evening schedule, and recharge devices if needed. 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM | Rotunda Museum Explore historic astronomical artifacts, observatory history, early instruments, Pluto exhibits, and scientific heritage collections. 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Clark Dome Open House Learn about the Clark Telescope, Percival Lowell, V. M. Slipher, and early astronomical discoveries. 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Twilight Campus Walk Take photographs and make-up for lost time. Buy CAFFEINE & treat at Planet X Cafe. 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Passport to the Universe An immersive journey through the observable universe. 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Constellation Orientation Attend any available sky-tour presentation and learn seasonal constellations, planets, and deep-sky targets. 9:00 PM - 9:45 PM | Giovale Open Deck Observatory - Night Observing Observe planets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, and double stars through multiple telescopes. 9:45 PM - 10:10 PM | Historic Clark Telescope Viewing Observe through the famous refractor and experience one of Lowell's signature attractions. 10:15 PM - 10:45 PM | Planetary Show Enjoy the immersive planetary experience as the grand finale after exploring Lowell's history, telescopes, exhibits, and the night sky. 10:45 PM - 11:30 PM | Stary Skies Gift Shop This concludes the observatory experience. 11:30 PM | Flagstaff Skyline *Depart Lowell Campus *Park at the roadside pullout, adjacent to Mars Hill Road & just feet from campus entrance *Enjoy bird's eye nighttime views of Flagstaff's skyline

Visited at 7pm on Black Friday, it's pretty crowded. Driving up to the hilltop, you can see the pretty city's night lights. We went for the live constellation show at the Dark Sky Planetarium, it was the highlight of our visit. Even the moonlight (half moon) was bright, we were able to see lot of stars on the rooftop observation (cold but the heated seats helped a lot). It's so amazing to see the guide's laser pointer on the sky to help us identify the stars. We found North Star, Summer Triangle, and others zodiac stars. What a wonderful stars grazing activity. We headed to the telescope viewing area on the 2nd floor, it's cool to checkout moon and Saturn on the telescope. I hope to visit again in summer.

The staff at the Lowell observatory are so incredibly knowledgeable! It's amazing how much information they have and how well-versed in astronomy they are! I've been here twice and saw different features in the sky through their telescopes both times. My first visit was on a weekday and it was not very crowded at all; we were able to see the entire exterior of the property in under an hour. My second visit was on a Saturday and the same night as a special member event they were holding and it was incredibly crowded and took forever to get through the lines. I need to go earlier next time so I can explore the inside and watch the shows too!

We enjoyed this observatory. We saw Saturn and Jupiter on a January night. On a holiday weekend there were long lines for the telescopes outside, so bundle up! Explore the campus using the complimentary map. There is a free show in the theatre, than an additional one if you pay extra, which is on the roof. There is a kids area, museum, and it's a nice facility to explore overall.

We had a great visit and would have stayed a lot longer if it wasn't for the extremely cold weather. If you're planning to visit in late Dec, dress accordingly or be prepared to freeze. There's tons of things to explore (exhibits, telescopes, etc.) inside and outside. If you visit in the evening, be sure to have the map handy bc it gets really dark out, like pitch dark, making it hard to navigate outside unless you know your way around. The shows were fantastic. Extremely professional / informative with great visuals. We got a small ($4) discount per ticket by showing a pamphlet we picked up from our hotel lobby.

A unique and class experience. The outdoor planetarium was chilly but heated seats and a good presentation made it tolerable. I liked that the staff sticks up for Pluto every chance they get. The viewing patio had a cool vibe with the quiet of the night and the high tech telescopes. The entry price is very reasonable, lots of parking and a chill staff.

Simply fantastic! My friend and I were feeling low energy but felt much more invigorated once we started to wander around. The exhibits are cool, and the campus is comfortably sprawling. Be sure to stay at night for the star watching experiences. Their cafe is also super good as the food is from Jitters which is amazing. Lowell Observatory is definitely worth a visit. Note, they also have lots of discounts available, and there are coupons around town as well.

This was a fun place to stop & explore with my family. The first activity room is perfect for families with younger children, there are so many easy hands on activities for kids to do. Even adults might find a few of the activities fun to do such as building a small rocket to shoot through hoops. The second room has some hands on activities for older participants as well, that are fun to explore as well. If you get tired and want to take in a show, they have a theatre that shows a number of short presentations that last anywhere from half an hour to an hour. Outside you can find a number of staff members who have telescopes set up to show you a number of different cool things to look at, answer questions and more. I also like the easy walking paths they have from building to building that allow you to enjoy the lovely weather. This is a cool spot that is worth checking out at least once.

Even if you don't have a major interest in astronomy, there is a lot to learn here about how vast our universe truly is. Having now visited the place, I now feel that I wish I could go back in time and strategize my visit here. First off, the tickets cost $35 and the plus tickets cost $40. From what I've seen, the extra $5 gives you access to two of the lectures. Second off, my suggestion for you tourists out there is to come during the day and explore the outdoor exhibits. Unfortunately, it was night time by the time I got to the outdoor exhibits and I couldn't see anything. So do the outdoor exhibits, then do the indoor exhibits. Once it's night time, go outside again to use the outdoor telescopes to see some of the stars out there. What I didn't know is that there are shows/lectures happening throughout the entire day. For you tourists out there, you can maximize your money by coming early to see the shows and then get lunch in the nearby downtown Flagstaff and come back to see the other shows and exhibits. I got there around 5:00pm and stayed until 9:00pm. I saw 3 of the lectures and then spent the rest of the time going through the exhibits. What I love about the first floor exhibits is that some of them are hands on: you can smell other planets, listen to light waves, and even spin around on a chair. There's also a small section where it's essentially an astronomy themed children's playground. Finally, this is the place that discovered Pluto. You can see the telescope that found it and they'll explain to you how they were able to see discover Pluto in the first place. If you are in Flagstaff, this is a must see place.
**July 2026: Tuesday Afternoon** Growing up, Pluto was still considered a planet, so when I found out the observatory where it was discovered is in Flagstaff, I knew I had to include Lowell Observatory on my itinerary. During the summer, tickets were $43 for adults, $38 for seniors (55+), and $28 for children (6-17), with hours from 1 PM to 11 PM (which makes sense with the later sunsets). My friend and I arrived around 2 PM and were able to jump right into a mix of lectures and guided tours. One of the highlights was being led to the very telescope where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. It was such a surreal, full-circle moment. Our guide also shared the history of Percival Lowell and walked us through the grounds, which added a lot of depth and context to the visit. I also appreciated how interactive the experience was. There are telescopes available for guests to use during both the day and night, and your admission includes a clip-on badge that allows you to leave and return later in the evening. We had planned to come back after dinner to try and catch a view of a planet, but unfortunately it was a cloudly forecast so we were out of luck. Even without perfect viewing conditions, the experience was still incredibly worthwhile. It's such a great place to learn, enjoy the outdoors, and appreciate the curiosity and dedication of scientists and researchers. We ended up attending several talks and tours and learned a lot throughout the afternoon. We stayed from about 2 PM to 6 PM and even grabbed a grilled cheese sandwich at the café, which hit the spot. Overall, Lowell Observatory is a unique and educational stop that I'd definitely recommend adding to your Flagstaff itinerary--especially if you have any interest in space or astronomy. read more
I have to admit that I was extremely disappointed in our experience at Lowell Observatory. Do not go during overcast or rainy weather! We pre-paid for our tickets (which are non-refundable), and had no choice but to go on the only day we were in Flagstaff... when it rained. The big clue should have been us driving into an absolutely empty parking lot. Most of the cool experiences in Lowell are weather-dependent. We couldn't look through the large telescopes because of the overcast. The observatory show (and many of the outdoor shows) were canceled. All the things that make the high admission price tag worth it just weren't possible. With that said, there aren't many indoor, inclement-weather-friendly activities at the observatory, which made for a fairly boring experience. We walked around for an hour, and then just left. The Lowell Observatory needs to expand in my opinion or offer discounted rates for days when most of its experiences are closed. Positive notes... the drive up to the observatory is very pretty. They have an awesome gift shop. And you can see the telescope that discovered Pluto. read more
What an absolute stunning place to visit. To see the telescope that actually discovered Pluto was amazing All of the history that you have is completely aww inspiring. And to even have a show that's on the roof rooftop with heated seats explaining about the moon an while we were there saw at least five shooting stars as the gentleman was talking. Completely worth every penny! The staff is all wonderful!! read more
3 months ago
We've been to Flagstaff so many times now, but never got a chance to visit the Observatory. My son host a huge fan of physics and space wanted to visit this place. We went just before two hours of the closing time and wish we came in a little earlier. This three floor observatory is so beautiful and informative from the gigantic telescope to play area for the kids it is a must visit for everyone. Our favorite part was looking at the galaxies from the large telescope in the night. We got to see the nebula and it was so cool. It just made us feel how tiny we are in this massive space. I loved how once you buy the tickets you could step out and come back so that's a great advantage to take specially when you want to do both during the day and the night. read more
2 days ago
I took a friend to the observatory this last weekend. His first visit & I had been there as a teenager about 50 years ago. The new Main Entrance & Welcome Center has new & wonderful high-tech displays that are great for adults and especially kids. The staff, present at every display area, provided excellent and clear information on the history and current projects. The facility is still being used for research so many ongoing activities. We will definitely be returning. With the exception of one or two displays, everything was available for a person using a wheelchair, such as myself. read more
If Yelp allowed it, I'd give Lowell Observatory a billion stars... mostly because that's about how many we actually saw. The dark skies over Flagstaff reveal more stars than Hollywood on Oscar night. Seriously, you look up and suddenly realize the universe has been showing off this whole time and you've just been missing the show. The telescopes were the real headliners. One was locked onto Jupiter, and we could see it in crystal clarity along with three of its moons just casually hanging out like cosmic roadies. Another telescope pointed us toward the Pleiades--also known as the Seven Sisters--which looked like the universe spilled a little glitter across the sky. The staff deserve their own constellation. Knowledgeable, friendly, and incredibly helpful, they explained everything without making the rest of us feel like we'd failed Astronomy 101. The outdoor show was informative, fun, and moved so quickly we almost forgot we were sitting in the cold... almost. Let's just say the temperature was sub-planetary, but the experience was stellar. Bottom line: if you're anywhere near Flagstaff, orbit on over to Lowell Observatory. It's an out-of-this-world experience that will leave you starry-eyed and over the moon. read more
This is honestly the first observatory I've ever been to in my life, and it was very nice. They had a kids play area where you could hang out and spend probably all day with your kids playing different things. I'm going down the slide to shooting up rocket ships and learning about different things in science and how they work. We also got to go to the area right next to it, which is more of an adult style learning, but also interactive for kids where there are more and more interactive questions that it ask and things that you're able to get hands-on with in this additional learning area, where a really teaches you about space and the stars of many other things I really enjoyed taking my family too experiences. We also got to take time to go outside around 9 o'clock and look through the telescope to see the moon very awesome and they had another telescope pointing at Saturn and my wife got to look through that one and she said it was just amazing because you could see the rings of Saturn. Overall, we really love this experience. It's a little more expensive than I anticipated, but it was a great experience and they had so much more than I talked about right here. Great things to learn videos that they play as you walk through and sit down and learn about space and so much more. It is a terrific place very friendly staff when you walk in and we honestly met people from all over the world coming to this very location so that was very amazing to have forever in this area. Don't hesitate to stop on in and do a little stargazing. read more
2 months ago
I put together a "maximum-value visitor itinerary" designed around a typical summer operating day (1:00 PM-11:00 PM) at Lowell Observatory. My goal was to experience every major exhibit, historic telescope, open house, science gallery, solar activity, planetarium experience, and nighttime observing opportunity while still enjoying a relaxed single meal break on site. The schedule follows Lowell's published daytime and nighttime offerings, placing solar activities in daylight and telescope observing after dark. Recreate at your own risk. Confirm events & showtimes before arriving. Purchase tickets online well in advance. Lowell is popular! Stay hydrated. Wear supportive shoes. Bring jackets or blankets for the nighttime rooftop planetarium show. Lowell Observatory Ultimate Visitor Day Itinerary (1:00 PM - 11:00 PM) 12:15 PM | Flagstaff Vista *Park at the roadside pullout, adjacent to Mars Hill Road & just feet from the campus entrance *Enjoy bird's eye views of Flagstaff area & pine forests 12:45 PM | Arrival & Mission Planning Check in, obtain the daily schedule, reserve any timed experiences if required, pick up a campus map, and visit restrooms before beginning. Goal: no backtracking later. 1:10 PM - 1:55 PM | Astronomy Discovery Center Explore the Stardust Lab Gallery, interactive exhibits, cosmology displays, exoplanet exhibits, and hands-on science stations. 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - We Are Stars Immersive film explaining the origin of stars and the elements that make up planets, life, and ourselves. 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Solar Viewing - Giovale Open Deck Observatory Use daylight for solar telescopes, sunspot viewing, solar prominence discussions, and telescope demonstrations. 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Cosmic Highways: A Centennial Tour Focus on Solar System exploration and major astronomical discoveries. 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Historic District Exploration Walk through Percival Lowell's observing grounds, historic architecture, outdoor exhibits, and Mars Hill viewpoints. 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Origins of Lowell Learn about Percival Lowell, the observatory's founding, the search for Planet X, and the discovery of Pluto. 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Pluto Discovery Experience Visit the Pluto Astrograph, Clyde Tombaugh exhibits, and Planet X interpretation areas. 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Meet the Planets An overview of the Solar System before nighttime observing begins. 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM | Dinner Break - Planet X Café Enjoy a 45-minute meal, hydrate, review the evening schedule, and recharge devices if needed. 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM | Rotunda Museum Explore historic astronomical artifacts, observatory history, early instruments, Pluto exhibits, and scientific heritage collections. 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Clark Dome Open House Learn about the Clark Telescope, Percival Lowell, V. M. Slipher, and early astronomical discoveries. 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Twilight Campus Walk Take photographs and make-up for lost time. Buy CAFFEINE & treat at Planet X Cafe. 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Lowell Universe Theater - Passport to the Universe An immersive journey through the observable universe. 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Constellation Orientation Attend any available sky-tour presentation and learn seasonal constellations, planets, and deep-sky targets. 9:00 PM - 9:45 PM | Giovale Open Deck Observatory - Night Observing Observe planets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, and double stars through multiple telescopes. 9:45 PM - 10:10 PM | Historic Clark Telescope Viewing Observe through the famous refractor and experience one of Lowell's signature attractions. 10:15 PM - 10:45 PM | Planetary Show Enjoy the immersive planetary experience as the grand finale after exploring Lowell's history, telescopes, exhibits, and the night sky. 10:45 PM - 11:30 PM | Stary Skies Gift Shop This concludes the observatory experience. 11:30 PM | Flagstaff Skyline *Depart Lowell Campus *Park at the roadside pullout, adjacent to Mars Hill Road & just feet from campus entrance *Enjoy bird's eye nighttime views of Flagstaff's skyline read more
Visited at 7pm on Black Friday, it's pretty crowded. Driving up to the hilltop, you can see the pretty city's night lights. We went for the live constellation show at the Dark Sky Planetarium, it was the highlight of our visit. Even the moonlight (half moon) was bright, we were able to see lot of stars on the rooftop observation (cold but the heated seats helped a lot). It's so amazing to see the guide's laser pointer on the sky to help us identify the stars. We found North Star, Summer Triangle, and others zodiac stars. What a wonderful stars grazing activity. We headed to the telescope viewing area on the 2nd floor, it's cool to checkout moon and Saturn on the telescope. I hope to visit again in summer. read more
The staff at the Lowell observatory are so incredibly knowledgeable! It's amazing how much information they have and how well-versed in astronomy they are! I've been here twice and saw different features in the sky through their telescopes both times. My first visit was on a weekday and it was not very crowded at all; we were able to see the entire exterior of the property in under an hour. My second visit was on a Saturday and the same night as a special member event they were holding and it was incredibly crowded and took forever to get through the lines. I need to go earlier next time so I can explore the inside and watch the shows too! read more
6 months ago
We enjoyed this observatory. We saw Saturn and Jupiter on a January night. On a holiday weekend there were long lines for the telescopes outside, so bundle up! Explore the campus using the complimentary map. There is a free show in the theatre, than an additional one if you pay extra, which is on the roof. There is a kids area, museum, and it's a nice facility to explore overall. read more
22 days ago
Wow. And I don't mean that in a good way. Expensive way to be treated to boring presentations and lame jokes about planets and space. Since it was rainy, we didn't get to see any of the telescopes. It was all projection movies and presenters using laser pointers. Very underwhelming, and HOT inside the auditorium. What a ripoff. Flagstaff is just a cool weather tourist trap. read more
We had a great visit and would have stayed a lot longer if it wasn't for the extremely cold weather. If you're planning to visit in late Dec, dress accordingly or be prepared to freeze. There's tons of things to explore (exhibits, telescopes, etc.) inside and outside. If you visit in the evening, be sure to have the map handy bc it gets really dark out, like pitch dark, making it hard to navigate outside unless you know your way around. The shows were fantastic. Extremely professional / informative with great visuals. We got a small ($4) discount per ticket by showing a pamphlet we picked up from our hotel lobby. read more
7 months ago
A unique and class experience. The outdoor planetarium was chilly but heated seats and a good presentation made it tolerable. I liked that the staff sticks up for Pluto every chance they get. The viewing patio had a cool vibe with the quiet of the night and the high tech telescopes. The entry price is very reasonable, lots of parking and a chill staff. read more
I've been coming to the observatory for years, so I've been enjoying the upgrades to the visitor center and other areas on the grounds. They now have a fantastic discovery station for kids, that involves hands-on activities and appropriately aged programming. Please note that most of the observatory involves walking around outside, so the weather matters for both getting around and viewing the stars! If you visit during the day, you can still visit the inner visitor center, cafe, gift shops, and stroll the paths/trails outside. You can visit the historic Clark telescope, but it probably won't be in use. It's really cool when they adjust the telescope, as it's historic and moves via wheels. They do hold talks/tours by staff, as well as have solar telescopes that you can use. At night, there's much more to do. Typically, they have all that I stated above, but they have a lot of other telescopes pointing at galaxies, star clusters, constellations, and other interesting points of view (also depending on the seasons) at the Giovale open deck observatory. Overall, I love visiting and they hold a lot of events throughout the year too. Definitely stop by and check it out, especially so you can see where Pluto was discovered! read more
Simply fantastic! My friend and I were feeling low energy but felt much more invigorated once we started to wander around. The exhibits are cool, and the campus is comfortably sprawling. Be sure to stay at night for the star watching experiences. Their cafe is also super good as the food is from Jitters which is amazing. Lowell Observatory is definitely worth a visit. Note, they also have lots of discounts available, and there are coupons around town as well. read more
This was a fun place to stop & explore with my family. The first activity room is perfect for families with younger children, there are so many easy hands on activities for kids to do. Even adults might find a few of the activities fun to do such as building a small rocket to shoot through hoops. The second room has some hands on activities for older participants as well, that are fun to explore as well. If you get tired and want to take in a show, they have a theatre that shows a number of short presentations that last anywhere from half an hour to an hour. Outside you can find a number of staff members who have telescopes set up to show you a number of different cool things to look at, answer questions and more. I also like the easy walking paths they have from building to building that allow you to enjoy the lovely weather. This is a cool spot that is worth checking out at least once. read more
Even if you don't have a major interest in astronomy, there is a lot to learn here about how vast our universe truly is. Having now visited the place, I now feel that I wish I could go back in time and strategize my visit here. First off, the tickets cost $35 and the plus tickets cost $40. From what I've seen, the extra $5 gives you access to two of the lectures. Second off, my suggestion for you tourists out there is to come during the day and explore the outdoor exhibits. Unfortunately, it was night time by the time I got to the outdoor exhibits and I couldn't see anything. So do the outdoor exhibits, then do the indoor exhibits. Once it's night time, go outside again to use the outdoor telescopes to see some of the stars out there. What I didn't know is that there are shows/lectures happening throughout the entire day. For you tourists out there, you can maximize your money by coming early to see the shows and then get lunch in the nearby downtown Flagstaff and come back to see the other shows and exhibits. I got there around 5:00pm and stayed until 9:00pm. I saw 3 of the lectures and then spent the rest of the time going through the exhibits. What I love about the first floor exhibits is that some of them are hands on: you can smell other planets, listen to light waves, and even spin around on a chair. There's also a small section where it's essentially an astronomy themed children's playground. Finally, this is the place that discovered Pluto. You can see the telescope that found it and they'll explain to you how they were able to see discover Pluto in the first place. If you are in Flagstaff, this is a must see place. read more
10 months ago
Came here on a school field trip and could not have been more impressed by the staff, the cleanliness of the entire observatory and how cool it is! Definitely impressed. read more
10 months ago
The Lowell Observatory is a cool place to visit if you're into astronomy! Came here to checkout the rooftop "Star Gazing Tour" and it was okay - for some reason I thought it would've been more interactive as far as what we all saw in the sky. It was more lecture style with the staff member just pointing at and explaining each star. Again, it's informative but I thought it would be more exciting than what it was. The show is only 30 min and outside on the rooftop, so dress warm (came in October so it gets COLD at night) but the seats are heated so that helps a bit. They have other exhibits throughout the center to checkout. read more
We came to Flagstaff for spring break to relax with the family and take in the sites. My party had people from 13 to late '60s in it and everybody enjoyed The observatory the most. Luckily, it was 15 minutes away from where we are staying and we were able to spend the afternoon there, go home have dinner, and then come back in the evening to see the stars and the rooftop show. I'm not sure what I was more impressed by, the amount of telescopes and photographs able be taken on property, the fact that Pluto was discovered there or overall how it had something for everybody. And for the price, it was absolutely worth the value. You are allowed to bring water bottles with lids on campus which is a godsend because I have a son with a health condition and we need to have water available at all times. They also offer a discount for military, or AAA which saved our group over $30. Granted, we ended up turning around and spending it in the gift store but that's okay it goes towards a good cause. I highly recommend going in the evening and doing a self-guided tour to See the Pluto dome, the Clark dome, and giovale open deck observatory. read more
Always wanted to go here since living in Arizona for a while. It was pretty busy. They have a cool observation deck and also telescopes that you can view the stars in the moon. We opted for the admission plus benefit so that way you can hear a story in the observation deck. Overall, I would recommend this place if you like astronomy. read more
I absolutely loved this and was so glad we came! We were in town for a few days and this was on my list of must-do activities. We bought our tickets online and included the 9:30 planetarium show, it was I think $40 per ticket with that. For what we experienced, learned, and saw, I thought the price was absolutely worth it. We arrived around 7:30ish on a Friday night because we wanted to experience everything else before the show started, and it was pretty busy. Being from Vegas, we didn't plan for the cooler weather at night, so we hit the gift shop first to look for something to cover up with. Pretty pricey in the gift shop, but we ended up getting 2 long-sleeved shirts from their Pluto festival which happened to be on sale for $20 each. I also got a hoodie as a souvenir for my sister and that was I believe $60. Once we got inside, we explored the room downstairs. There's another room, but it's a kids area. There were a lot of interactive exhibits and we learned so much! It was cool to see so many people there taking in all the cool stuff. We eventually made our way upstairs and looked at the wall of scientists and stuff, read the things about them, and then headed outside to the telescopes. As you walk over, there are different things to read, lit up with reddish light so that it doesn't affect the sky. There were long lines for some of the telescopes, but they moved quickly enough, and we had fun picking out different constellations while we waited. The people working at the different telescope spots were so friendly, you could tell they loved their job, and had lots of cool facts. After that, we had to make our way to the show, so we skipped about 2 other things we could have done. When we got to the top with about 10 minutes to spare, it was already very full. We found 2 seats together and were so excited to see there were buttons to turn the heaters on in the seats, it was very cold out. The seats lean back pretty far so you can look up into the sky. The lady giving the presentation was funny, super knowledgeable, and we learned sooooo much! I'm proud to say I know how to find the North Star now. This was a wonderful experience, especially coming from a city that is lit up 24/7, so we never really get to see things like this. I think this is something you 100% have to do if you are in Flagstaff. read more
6 months ago
January's weather was perfect for star gazing. Try to visit at "dinner time", watch the sunset, spend time visiting their interactive displays. Once the sky is dark, there were several telescopes: moon (we went Saturday on a full moon), Saturn . Nebula, and seven sisters. Very knowledgeable astronomers. A short walk to the big telescope - Jupiter. You can see two moons and the bands on the plant. Way cool!! Highly recommend on a clear night. read more
3 months ago
Beautiful new visitors center, complete with separate areas for young children and older kids. Interesting presentations in the large screen immersive theatre. I think it's fantastic that we get to view through the historic telescopes! The volunteers are approachable, and there was someone in each dome to help explain the historical significance of each telescope, as well as pointing it at an interesting object. And I've never stargazed in a heated recliner before. It's a whole new experience! read more
We visited the Observatory two consecutive evenings in October. The (recently?) renovated visitor center is superb with many hands-on interactive activities and educational displays. We attended one of the talks in the theatre which included a brief overview of all the planets in our solar system. All of this plus the beautiful observation deck was included in the price of admission! Pro tip - don't be the person staring at your phone or turning on your flashlight on the observation deck. This will damper the experience for others while you need your eyes to adjust to the evening sky. Don't be "that" person! :) read more
4 months ago
More than we expected. A very comprehensive experience where we spent 4 hours learning from interactive and informative displays. Make sure to attend the "history of Lowell" presentation in the auditorium. Fun fact: Pluto was discovered at this observatory. Highly recommend visiting! read more
4 months ago
I had such a great experience visiting the observatory- it was genuinely one of the highlights of our trip to Flagstaff. From the moment we walked in, everything felt well-organized, spotless, and thoughtfully designed. What impressed me most was how engaging it was, especially for kids. It struck a perfect balance between being educational and entertaining, so kids stayed curious and excited the whole time. The observatory itself was fascinating, Overall, it's a fantastic place for families--fun, inspiring, and extremely well-maintained. read more
4 months ago
Did a quick evening trip after dinner at the outside area of the Observatory, looked through telescopes. Went to the night show, seats were heated A+ learned so much, the speaker was entertaining and not long winded. Definitely will be going back! Cool gift shop. read more
2 months ago
Friendly and helpful staff. The new ADC is Amazing!!!! The interactive exhibits are great for all ages. Stargazing the telescopes were fun and extremely educational. read more
10 months ago
Unfortunately due to cloudy/rainy weather, the observation decks were closed. However, John made the visit worth it. He took the time to answer all of our questions and answered with care, sincerity, and intelligence. We hope to see John again soon at a Tuesday class here (which he told us about). John's a real STAR read more
This place was amazing! You could see the milky way clearly. Although freezing during this time of year we had some beautiful views that we will never forget. We didn't get to see the show they do because of nearby smoke but i still can't stop telling my friends and family how amazing this experience was read more
This is an amazing place. The all day lecture series along with a slide presentation is fantastic. The auditorium is not to be missed. Each lecture is different lasting about 20 minutes. And, don't miss their dark sky lecture. It only $5.00 extra and very interesting. It's a 35 minutes long presentation, looking at Flagstaff dark sky. The program is at 8:30 than again at 9:30. In the summer choose the 9:30 show when it's really dark. Dress warmly, even though the seats are heated. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. We plan on coming back again when we are in Flagstaff. read more
1 year ago
If you're in Flagstaff be sure to stop at the observatory. It's a cool spot to learn about stars and planets. The view up there is nice if you're going during the daytime. I used to have annual membership but I stopped due to not going to flag enough. But it's a great place to visit. They have some fairly large telescopes for viewing stars at night. read more
2 years ago
Very impressive, very well run and staff were outstanding. Highly recommend if in the area, very reasonable priced. read more
1 year ago
Very pretty and informative! I thought it was really cool to see the history and telescopes and all of the staff were helpful in describing the exhibits and views from the telescope. Teagan in particular was very nice and answered our countless questions about space and history read more
2 years ago
This place deserves as many starts as there are in the universe, I only gave it 3 only because of the distraction during all 3 lectures ....I absolutely loved this place and had a wonderful experience overall, but it was unfortunately marred by the constant disruption from children during the lectures. There were kids screaming, crying, and running in the lecture room, and the parents didn't seem to intervene. Many adults kept shushing, hoping the parents would take the hint, but nothing changed. It would be great if they could offer separate lectures for adults, and for families, so those who are there to genuinely learn can fully enjoy the experience without the distractions. read more
1 year ago
This place rocks! The staff are friendly and know their stars,planets and galaxies. Justar was wonderful on the phone and gave us great advice...come in the day to see the exhibits and then return that evening to the outdoor program with heated seats I might add. It was fantastic and Flagstaff being one of the few cities celebrating dark skies was special! Lowell's had a face lift and it's so much better than before. Come see for yourself! read more
Recommend: Absolutely. Remarkable observatory and the BIRTHPLACE of Pluto, by accident no less! We toured it this year (2023) during the Eclipse that took place. The facility was open to all paid personnel and offered hot drinks and tons of sweet treats to enjoy walking the grounds. A completely new expansion is being built; not sure when the completion date is but as a whole, the minimal amount of 'instructional' items to view are signs that walk you up to the main observatory that show the distance of the planets in our solar system and the few on the sides of the retractable roofed building. Very little instructional information inside the visitors center but the eldest telescope at the top of the hill, which is 125 YEARS old was an absolutely beautiful piece of machinery to see! I'm not sure if the normal price point to enter the observatory grounds is a just price, being around $30.00. In fact, I'd offer it's a bit over the top, but my family of four went to support the eclipse context of it this year and the weather was unconditionally perfect with NO wind. WIN! The new mass collected telescopes under the removable roofed building was a really cool thing to witness. Generous Staff around to guide and instruct during the eclipse, but again, a bit scant on the educational commentary minus the items on sides of the new retractable building and the 'planet walk' when you first start your way up. Enjoyed by all as an overall summary and again, would recommend stopping in if not just to learn the incredible story behind HOW they found Pluto. I'll leave that part out but it's not the way you'd THINK it was found. Cheers! read more
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More info about Lowell Observatory
1400 W Mars Hill Rd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Directions
(928) 774-3358
Call Now
Visit Website
https://lowell.edu
Hours
What time does Lowell Observatory open?
Lowell Observatory opens at 12:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What time does Lowell Observatory close?
Lowell Observatory closes at 10:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Lowell Observatory is closed on Tuesday.
Mon, Wed-Sun 12:00 PM - 10:00 PMTue Closed
Indoor Amenities
Does Lowell Observatory allow dogs?
No, Lowell Observatory does not allow dogs.
Other Amenities
Does Lowell Observatory have free WiFi?
Yes, Lowell Observatory has free WiFi.
From the Business
Specialties
Effective Monday, March 7th, 2022, Lowell Observatory has lifted our on-campus mask requirements to match new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Established in 1894, Lowell Observatory is a leading astronomical and planetary science research institution, National Historic Landmark, and one of the most popular nighttime destinations in Arizona. Our astronomers and planetary scientists work to reveal our universe with advanced instruments, such as the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope, the 5th-largest optical telescope in the continental US. State-of-the-art public telescopes provide incredible views of the cosmos, and our historical telescopes offer a look into our history of scientific progress. Admission includes constellation tours, exhibits, and access to our Giovale Open Deck Observatory. See why we are recognized as the world's first International Dark Sky destination.
History
Established in 1894.
Lowell Observatory has been making history beneath the awe-inspiring dark skies of Flagstaff, Arizona since 1896. Here, you can experience the past, present, and future of astronomy firsthand. On these storied grounds, you can walk in the footsteps of such prolific figures as our founder Percival Lowell, Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh, the astronauts of the Apollo Program, and numerous others. History is made every day by our brilliant team of researchers, both on our Mars Hill Campus and at the powerful Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) site in Happy Jack, Arizona. Book now--your ticket to the universe awaits!
Meet the Manager: Jeff H.
Dr. Jeffrey Hall has served as Lowell's Director since June 2010. He joined the staff at Lowell in 1992 as a postdoctoral research fellow. He works with Dr. Wes Lockwood, Brian Skiff, and Len Bright on Lowell's Solar-Stellar Spectrograph (SSS) project, a long-term program involving monitoring of solar and stellar activity cycles, with the goal of lending an astronomical perspective to solar influences on terrestrial climate. Dr. Hall is presently a member of the American Astronomical Society's standing committee on light pollution, space debris, and radio interference, and has played an active role in dark-sky preservation efforts around Arizona.
Ask the Community - Lowell Observatory
Are you allowed to bring drinks in or do they sell coffee or anything In the evening?
You cannot bring food or drinks around the telescopes, but they sell snacks and refrigerated coffee in the gift shop!
Are there many steps or do they have elevators?
There's is a ramp to the entrance and a single story facility :)
Review Highlights - Lowell Observatory
“Gerard Van Bell, Lowell Astronomer first for his fascinating presentation as to why Pluto is or isn't a planet.”
Mentioned in 76 reviews
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
8 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
5 months ago
I recently visited Lowell Observatory, and unfortunately, my experience fell short of expectations. We paid $35 for general admission, but right from the start, there was a lack of clarity regarding what our ticket included. We were not informed about the difference between the paid exhibits and those included with general admission, which left us feeling somewhat misled. During our visit, we attempted to attend a specific event that was supposedly sold out. However, after some effort, we managed to get in and discovered that it was far from being at capacity. This added to our frustration, as we felt we had been misinformed about the situation. When we returned later in the evening to observe the stars, we were informed that we needed an additional ticket for that experience. This was never mentioned to us during our earlier interactions with the staff. As first-time visitors, we expected more guidance on the highlights and offerings of the observatory. Despite asking multiple staff members for information, we received little assistance. It was disappointing to leave without fully experiencing what we had hoped for. Overall, I believe that for the price we paid, better communication and support for visitors would significantly enhance the experience. read more
6 months ago
We had an amazing time at Lowell Observatory! General admission is $35 for adults, but we were lucky enough to use cultural passes from our local library, which saved us quite a bit. We did pay an additional $5 for the show, and I highly recommend it - especially on a night when the moon isn't out. The darker sky makes it much easier to see the stars and constellations when they're pointed out. The show was outdoors, and it was freezing, but the heated recliner chairs were an absolute lifesaver. We arrived pretty late after a full day trip in Sedona, so we were on a bit of a time crunch to explore all the exhibits. Our highlight was definitely looking through the telescopes and seeing Saturn, Jupiter, the moon, and other incredible stars up close. The gift shop was also lovely - we picked up some fun magnets and beautiful art pieces souvenirs. Next time, we'll definitely plan to spend more time there so we can fully enjoy everything instead of rushing through. If you're in the area and love learning about space, Lowell Observatory is absolutely worth a visit. read more
12 years ago
This place is not cool at all. The people that work here are not customer service professionals, just kids and that shows. Great job management. This used to be a great place, a lot of talented and science first people used to work here but it's been commercialized. Says a lot about the state of education in this country. Oh, well there are better places out there. read more
4 years ago
Just a amazing experiance. Next time I'm bokking a Hotel in Flagstaff, just to get the opportunity to take a look into the Clark Telescope at night time Trveler from Norway read more
9 years ago
What a great place. I got to actually see Saturn via the telescope! How amazing is that? The staff were all nice too! Go at night! it's the BEST! read more
7 years ago
Very expensive. You spent more than one hour to see .... nothing. Very disappointed !
11 years ago
Nice tour. Hope everything is available to see next trip!!
14 years ago
This is a great place!
Lowell Observatory - observatories - Updated August 2026
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