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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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

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

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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

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

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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

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The Lowell Observatory is a COMPLETE WASTE of gas, time & a whole lot of money!! We paid $175 for a family of 6!!! We walked around and looked through a few large telescopes at bright lights that we were told were Mars, Mercury & a star. The sun was a the only thing that we could actually see that was cool. It was a bright reddish orange color with flairs coming off the sides of it. You could also see dark spots on the surface. Other than that it was several long lines and nothing interesting to see. They charge $5 extra to sit on top of the viewing deck to look at stars.....like the $35 entrance fee isn't enough!!! Over all very disappointing and not worth the trip or cost. We should have went to a movie instead......It would have been cheaper and more enjoyable!! read more

Lowell Observatory - Telescope - Observatories Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

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I would like to thank Rowen for providing friendly service, jam packed with useful info. Because of his knowledge we purchased a year membership and were first in line to use the telescope!! The place is so much fun and staffed with knowledgeable and friendly individuals. We had such a relaxing great time! There is a lot to see and do. Check out the gift shop for some fun mementos. Arrive early as parking can be a challenge and spot dont open quickly. This is a slow leisure, enjoy the sights kinda visit. read more

This is hands down one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Flagstaff. It's such a cool experience. I love learning about the stars + planets and it's even better when you visit at night. So much to do and so much to look at. This would be a great place to visit for families! read more

Only not rating 5 stars because I think it's extremely pricy. We loved touring through the observatory & interacting with the exhibits. read more

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We got there late on a Monday night having come from the Grand Canyon Railway. We were hoping for lots of telescopes and a neat movie - but there were only 3 telescopes open (it was still really need to look through) but they were rushing everyone through the largest, due to a line, which tarnished the experience. The movie stopped playing 15 minutes before close - there were no signs. Not sure it was worth the $75 given our limited time. I do think there's lots to experience if you're there for a full day - Star gazing, sun viewing, etc. They are closed on Tuesday - so plan ahead. read more

Great people, cool gift shop, and much to learn. To my surprise, I ended up spending three hours here. Best to come in the evening obviously for stargazing. Look through the many high-end telescopes they have to see the Andromeda Galaxy, the Moon, etc. Make sure to visit the museum, talk to the staff, and attend the lecture (which I missed for next time). read more

10/10 - would highly recommend!!! Go at night for stargazing! They had telescopes set up at various points on campus, and guides explaining what we were looking at. The dark sky experience is totally worth the extra $5 - heated seats, a guide to explain everything, and just a brilliant experience! read more

What an incredible time! I've been in the past to listen to lectures and do the public tours. Everyone is very friendly and happy to share their knowledge. The property is lovely with lots of trails to walk. Last month we booked the private, 90-minute experience and it was incredible! You can take up to 10 people in your group and a scientist takes you through a number of celestial objects and you can even make requests. I highly recommend it! read more

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What an amazing historical location. It's a destination in Flagstaff that should not be missed. Pluto was discovered here. read more

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Not worth the $35. The kids spot might be cool for a little kids but the rest is mid. They charge extra for shows as if $35 wasn't enough. The telescopes only show a spec or two of light. I was expecting to see a plant or a up close star on the telescope and was disappointed. read more

I've been here before they did all there 'upgrades'. The place is beautiful and seeing the telescopes is amazing. They are very disorganized, the timetables they give to view the Clark and Lowell telescope are not correct. The employees seem to be helpful, but some can't answer questions. They insist on you going to watch movies, but those are really a waste of time. It doesn't give you actual information just a few astronomers who need there 5 minutes of fame and tell you about themselves. I would have preferred information on Lowell, Tombaugh, or information about Flagstaff and the Observatory. The gift store had only 2 pictures of the famous photo of Pluto (it's really just a bunch of over priced stuff). The Cafe does not have hot chocolate and the even tell you that, just microwavable food and day old cookies. The food is ok and priced for what it is, not horribly expensive. The children's area was nice, but instead of the employees sitting and talking to each other they should have been interacting with the paying customers. Even the area next to that area was full of information. It really is a remarkable place, and we enjoyed many hours there, seeing the sun through the telescope and orions belt were the highlights. I would say half the employees where helpful and knew what they were talking about, the others are there for a paycheck. The ones running the outside modern telescopes were the most knowledgeable. The women who was in the Clark telescope was rude and not helpful as well as the older man who started the talk on the Clark and Lowell telescopes at 5 (although the pamphlet says 530), he couldn't answer a simple question and was dismissive. As much as I love science and history, I won't return. read more

Most amazing views of the night sky. Pictures don't do it justice. Staff was super friendly. Went there one hour before closing and still paid full price but it was worth it to see Jupiter, Saturn, and the Milky Way. read more

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This Observatory is amazing and so beautiful. A definite must visit in the evening when in Flagstaff . Tip: Arrive before the sun sets and can get crowded especially with a new moon. read more

This is a must-see if you're visiting Flag. The new renovations are incredible and there was so much to do. I loved that in the museum area, there were interactive learning areas for kids and adults. Plan your trip ahead of time to make sure you catch the right shows, but they have a good variety throughout the day. We were able to see the moon through one of the best telescopes and paid $5 extra for a lecture and guided night viewing on the roof (the weather wasn't too cold when we went, but they did have heated seats which was a nice touch). Would definitely come back! read more

We have been coming to the Lowell Observatory for years. Recently we met Dr. Larry Wasserman during a Meet a Planetary Astronomer event. In addition to being very knowledgeable, he has a down-to-earth personality and great sense of humor. I admit that we initially went into his room to get warm, but it ended up being the best part of our evening. read more

The observation deck is wonderful! The people working there are knowledgeable. The learning from there is priceless and the kids had a blast too read more

If you haven't been since the remodel late last year you need to go! It is unbelievable. Lots of interactive exhibits geared toward laypeople. I was so impressed I got an annual membership. Very well done! read more

The observatory and telescope viewing was wonderful. However we paid extra for an open observation show and the moon was so bright you could not see most of the stars and constellations. Do not stay late and pay for this show unless it is a new moon or less than a quarter moon. It was a waste of time and money. read more

If you love science, stars, views or all of the above this place is so worth the stop. East to get to, plenty of parking and the views from up top are awesome. There are fours available, plenty of walkable trails where you can stop to read and so much more. Tickets need to be purchased depending on what you're wanting to do, but again if you love to learn and see new things this is a must. We didn't have time to do the full tour, but walking the property was heaven. read more

Lowell Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

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We visited this place at night. What a great, unplanned visit while we were in Flagstaff! Seeing the telescopes was really cool, especially the one that they used to discover Pluto. The back story was truly interesting. But the best moment was the observation deck where we were able to see through one of the many modern telescopes and saw Jupiter and its four moons! After this we also had a tour of the star constellations by one of their resident astronomers. It was freezing out but this was worth every minute. read more

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I really wanted to like this place but it didn't deliver. Nothing was open the day we went. We weren't able to see or use any of the cool telescopes that we paid to see. Admission is $30 on a weekday, which is suuuper high for an observatory. The LA Griffith park observatory is free and there's much to do there. So I had a hard time justifying the price tag at Lowell. The grounds are nice and well kept, it's beautiful here and very quiet. Walking around was the highlight honestly. read more

Took three grand kids (age 7,9,11) for the first time. The presentations kept all of their attention. The grounds are incredible and the view down on Flagstaff is as gorgeous as the view into the skies. We were able to see the sun through their telescope using a filter. Great staff throughout the facility to answer questions and give insight to the overall facility. Prices are great for a family to join! We purchased an annual pass that gives us access to several other sites. The kids appreciated the direct tie to Meteor Crater. They had just visited there. Putting the two together and linking to active NASA projects was interesting. read more

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This is one of my all-time fav observatories for a couple of very personal sentimental reasons! Though Pluto was officially discovered at this very observatory on Feb 18, 1930; it wasn't announced to the World until March 13, 1930. My birthdate just happens to be March 13th, so Pluto has always held a very special place in my heart because of that. I was lucky enough to be at the very observatory that Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 on July 14, 2015 when New Horizons was scheduled to make its flyby of Pluto. It was such a great, memorable, and incredible experience! They had "Pluto-themed" festivities all-day w/an announcement by a NASA astronaut that had worked on the New Horizons mission when New Horizons actually did the broadcasted fly-by! Whether you agree or disagree on the planetary status, you can get your fill of the 9th planet or Kaipur Belt relic here! But, aside from all the amazing historical Pluto-centric stuff to see here, it's just a really fantastic observatory in a really beautiful location! They often have great programs, both day and night, and they had some spectacular live solar viewing during some of the Sun's peak CME activity! To see it on a special screen was really awesome! You can totally unleash your inner-and-outer SpaceNerd here! You can also see the telescope Tombaugh used to discover Pluto and walk a scaled version of the solar system in the gorgeous grounds. Definitely plan to spend a couple of hours here and certainly stop by the gift shop. They have some reasonably priced astro-nerd trinkets. I snagged a prized possession for $40 of a piece of meteorite mounted in a necklace that was discovered...you guessed it, on my birthday, in the Sahara desert! Worth a visit if you're in the Flagstaff area and well worth the drive if you're not! read more

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Such an amazing surprise! Must do in Flagstaff! We learned so much! Take advantage of all of their programs. read more

Understand that I love astronomy and value the fact that there is a well-known observatory to visit in Flagstaff. The history of the place is important as it is the. observatory where Pluto was discovered. I was very much looking forward to visiting with my family, including two grandkids, ages 4 and 6 -- hoping the kids would find something to interest them. Pros: Interesting to see some small telescopes in use during the day to observe the sun and moon. Note: visiting AT NIGHT to view the sky with their sophisticated telescopes would have made a fantastic visit and well worth the cost of admission. Cons: The 'movie' they advertise about viewing celestial bodies to music is not informative and downright boring. Ironically, the largest exhibit was specifically for kids (my grandkids enjoyed the observatory more than the adults!). But the exhibits in the building were dull and sparse. Not worth the price unless you go for night viewing. read more

Literally a waste of your time and money. Long lines to basically see a few stars through a telescope that aren't interesting. The Pluto telescope that is not functional was actually the most interesting part of it. The woman in that building was friendly & knowledgeable le. read more

You will be pleasantly surprised at the reasonable price for a day full of interesting things to do. On a recent trip to Flagstaff, we went there and asked questions 1st. they were very informative. about how their programs work. I do recommend calling or visiting 1st as the schedule varies each day. All of the activities are very educational as well as fun. Staff is very knowledgeable and willing to engage with you. of course, this is a weather limited activity place. If it is cloudy, it won't be as cool as on a clear day or night, but it's still worth the experience.... read more

Top #1 on my list of things to do while in Flagstaff!! We came around 9pm at night to have a better look at the stars, it was relatively cold so bundle up and dress according to weather. parking lot is small, so carpool if possible. We also saved a few $$ using a visitors voucher we found from our hotel, signal/wifi is hit/miss so if you are buying your admission with groupon buy it before arriving. overall, it is a really cool place to visit they have one main telescope and a few lecture halls for talks/presentations. you can also meet astronomers. The workers and volunteers are extremely welcoming and happy to answer any star/universe related questions. their newest attraction is their open deck observatory, which houses around 5 different smaller telescopes, we were able to see saturn and the moons craters. really fun experience!! def. would do it again if ever back in flagstaff! read more

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The Lowell Observatory was where the scientists first identified Pluto. They had telescopes set up outside when we were there and we could see Jupiter during the day as well as observe the sun through filtered lenses. Inside they also had a large exhibit area that had facts, pictures and demonstrations. They are also open after dark for even better viewing of the skies, however we weren't able to return to do that. read more

There's a lot to learn at Lowell Observatory from the printed information to the super knowledgeable people / guides. Sit in on the lectures to learn more and come back at nighttime for stargazing if the weather allows! read more

Lowell Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

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I have mixed feelings about the Lowell Observatory. I first visited years ago and was unable to do much because it was raining the evening I went. I was excited to go back and see what I missed with clear weather - but it was pretty underwhelming. The tickets are overpriced for the experience. We got to look through 3 telescope - one large and two smaller ones and listened to a constellation tour that was almost inaudible. The campus is very dark and hard to navigate, even with the map. I understand that it needs to be dark, but some extra signage pointing you in the right direction would be helpful. Overall, it was loud and crowded and didn't feel like it was worth the second trip back. read more

Absolutely loved our visit to Lowell Observatory! We took the Expanding Universe Guided Tour and our guides were amazing! They were so knowledgeable and excited to share with us. They educators have no control over the weather but made sure we knew when clouds moved and certain stars were again visible in the telescope so we didn't miss a thing. Like I said the staff can not control the weather but they strive to make sure you have a good experience. My friend took the same tour about a month before our tour. She was happy that this trip included the Putnam Collection Center. Looks like they have plans for all kinds of weather situations. Even the gift shop staff was exceptional. A friend sent me a photograph of a gift she was looking for her daughter. They didn't have the exact one on display but she checked their overstock and found exactly what she was looking for. When I got into the car to leave I stated that I would definitely come back here again! read more

Lowell Observatory - Learning about the telescope - Observatories Near Me - Flagstaff, Arizona

We were here summer of '24 and it was AMAZING!! They have changed their programming and now it was just meah. Last year, the story of Pluto was an hour long presentation, now it's an open house style discussion. We found out so much more detailed information last year. We felt that the entire experience was just lacking this year. Not all change is good. They really need to go back to how it was in '24. We left there on fire and super excited to bring friends there. Now I doubt we will ever be back. read more

Pluto was discovered here and they have a tour available to learn about how the Pluto was discovered and how it was named. That's not only that here. Be sure to stay long enough to join a few other tours here and learn about Mr Lowell and how he started here and some of the interesting stories about this location. All the staff/guide here is very nice and they know how to make the tour interesting. Some of them are NAU students. I learned so much from their story. If you come in fall or winter, bundle up as some of the tours are outside and it is very cold here. Night tour is available from Monday to Saturday and night tour is included in the original admission. Save the receipt to come back at night. Or if you come on Sunday, since they don't offer night tour, admission price is reduced. read more

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