I Heart Pluto Festival 2023
Flagstaff, AZ — February 18 - 20, 2023
2023-02-18 18:00:00
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Pluto Pub Crawl
02/112023

Pluto Pub Crawl

2023 News, Blog, Event, News

With the I Heart Pluto Festival just one week away, we’re getting hyped for all the special events and activities that will be happening both on and off our Mars Hill campus! On the evening before the festival’s official start on Saturday, February 17, the Pluto Pub Crawl will take place in Flagstaff’s historic downtown; a place overflowing with variety, culture, and some of the best breweries and restaurants on this side of the Mississippi. It all starts at 6pm, and goes until last call!

You can download a map here, or collect one from any of the participating locations along the path of the Pub Crawl. You may notice that the route makes an interesting shape — it’s the planetary symbol for Pluto! Read on to learn more about the Crawl and the locations you’ll discover on the way. The locations are listed in no particular order; you can tackle the map in any way you choose!


❤︎ Dark Sky Brewing Co.

Crafting a beer selection that is as unique and beautiful as every star, meteor, and comet we can see from our backyard. Dark Sky Brewing Co.’s micro-brewery size allows them the freedom to brew everything from traditional recipes to experimentally fun brews with exotic ingredients. In honor of the 93rd anniversary of Pluto’s discovery, DSB will be renaming one of their classic brews to ‘Pluto Paloma,’ and it will be available for the whole month of February! DSB is listed as the first stop on the Pluto Pub Crawl.

 

❤︎ Hops On Birch

Nestled in Flagstaff’s historic downtown area, Hops on Birch was founded in 2012. It was opened with a big vision in mind: to offer some of the best craft beer, wine and service in Arizona. Hops offers unique beers from breweries from across Arizona and the US. They have also always been known for being extremely dog friendly and having a beautiful patio. Hops of Birch will be offering a special Pluto brew during the festival. Stop by to taste it for yourself!

 

❤︎ Rendezvous at the Monte Vista Hotel

Opened in 2003 with the intention of creating a special meeting place for community members and tourists to come together, the Rendezvous at Monte Vista is the perfect space to gather for everything from work and study to friends and date nights. They serve locally roasted, artisanal coffee from their state-of-the-art espresso machine, as well as craft cocktails from a seasonal menu featuring house-made bitters, syrups, juices and liquor infusions, expertly curated by their creative staff of bartenders and baristas. The Rendezvous also offers a thoroughly deluxe selection of spirits as well as a rotating draught system featuring several local brews. Stop by for a special Pluto cocktail during the Pub Crawl!

 

❤︎ Drinking Horn Mead Hall

Drinking Horn mead is inspired by a desire to live, and drink more simply and environmentally responsibly. Created in small batches using the best ingredients and natural processes, Drinking Horn’s authentic recipes strive to get back to the roots of one of human kind’s earliest libations. On the evening of February 17, this cozy, laid-back venue fit for a viking’s feast will be participating in the Pluto Pub Crawl. Stop by to sample their assortment of flavored meads and mead-based cocktails!

 

❤︎ Lumberyard Brewing Co.

Housed in one of the last standing buildings of Flagstaff’s Lumber era, Lumberyard Brewing Company has been brewing award-winning beers for people who love to drink it since 2010. With a full menu, large patio, and tons of drink specials and weekly events, Lumberyard Brewing has something for everyone. At the ‘Yard, it’s not just about the attitude, it’s all about the altitude. Be sure to stop in and ask for the Pluto Special.

❤︎ The Annex

The Annex is, hands down, Northern Arizona’s premier cocktail lounge. Their expert cocktail leadership collaborates with their top-notch bartenders every season to create cocktails unlike any you’ve experienced before — it’s art, in a glass! Try out their special Pluto cocktail, available this month only.

 

❤︎ Historic Brewing Co.

Historic Brewing Company brews up craft beer and awesomeness, both at their Historic Taproom production facility on the east side of Flagstaff and their downtown Historic Barrel + Bottle House location downtown. On FebruaryDuring the festival, Historic will offer a “Pluto Sky” blueberry sour, Pluto cocktail, and 10% discount with Lowell GA Pass at the Barrel + Bottle House during the Pub Crawl.

 

❤︎ NiMarco’s Pizza

NiMarco’s is Flagstaff’s hometown pizzeria, and it won Best of Flag’s Best Pizza award in 2022. Their original store is located downtown, just south of the tracks on Beaver Street. Their second location is right at the entrance of NAU on Milton Road, and their brand new third location is located on the east side of town on the corner of Kaspar Drive and historic Route 66. Stop by for a bite to help you refuel!

 

❤︎ Mother Road Brewing Co.

Mother Road Brewing Company is Arizona’s third-largest independent craft brewer. Founded in 2011, their mission is to brew distinguished beers and build community, one pint at a time. Mother Road will unveil yet another limited-edition Pluto-themed beer for the festival, which will be unveiled at the Cheers to Pluto! Beer Unveiling and Astronomy on Tap event on the evening of February 16. During the Pub Crawl, come by to try their special Pluto-themed beer.

 

❤︎ Flagstaff Brewing Co.

Flagstaff Brewing Company was opened in July of 1994 with the mission to provide craft-brewed beer and a robust whiskey selection to a thirsty mountain town. Aiming to further the ambiance of great brewpubs, Flagbrew (as the locals like to call it), provides a casual and friendly atmosphere, which anyone should expect from a genuine brewpub. Swing by to try their special Pluto cocktail!

 

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The 'From Pluto with Love' cocktail, created by Starlite Lanes. | Nate Nise
02/102023

Meet our Out-of-this-World Community Partners

2023 News, Blog, Event, News

The only thing we love more than Pluto here on Mars Hill is our incredible Flagstaff community! This year, the I Heart Pluto Festival is being supported by a group of integral players in Flagstaff’s food, drink, and entertainment scenes. Read on to learn what our stellar sponsors are bringing to the table (besides their love for Pluto, of course!).

 ❤︎ Drinking Horn Mead Hall

Drinking Horn mead is inspired by a desire to live, and drink more simply and environmentally responsibly. Created in small batches using the best ingredients and natural processes, Drinking Horn’s authentic recipes strive to get back to the roots of one of human kind’s earliest libations. On the evening of February 17, this cozy, laid-back venue fit for a viking’s feast will be participating in the Pluto Pub Crawl. Stop by to sample their assortment of flavored meads and mead-based cocktails!

❤︎ FlagTag AZ

Eat and play at 7k! If you’re looking for something fun for the whole family, FlagTag AZ is the place. They offer laser tag in a multi-storied arena, axe-throwing, a pizza cafe, and more. FlagTag AZ will be at the Night of Discovery event at the Orpheum Theater on February 19, offering complimentary axe-throwing to Pluto lovers before the show begins.

❤︎ Single Speed Coffee Roasters

Single Speed Coffee Roasters is a family-owned micro roastery, where they care about loving people… with good coffee! Single Speed will have a booth set up at Lowell Observatory to serve up fresh-brewed coffee all day, every day from Feb 18-20 (all three days of the festival!).

❤︎ Dark Sky Brewing Co.

Crafting a beer selection that is as unique and beautiful as every star, meteor, and comet we can see from our backyard. Dark Sky Brewing Co.’s micro-brewery size allows them the freedom to brew everything from traditional recipes to experimentally fun brews with exotic ingredients. In honor of the 93rd anniversary of Pluto’s discovery, DSB will be renaming one of their classic brews to ‘Pluto Paloma,’ and it will be available for the whole month of February!

❤︎ Diablo Burger

Diablo burger is an Arizona local foods-based burger joint. All of their burgers are made from 100% local, grass-fed, open range-raised, antibiotic-free and growth-hormone-free beef from the ranches of the Diablo trust, whose award-winning land stewardship produces burgers that allow us them to say, “this is landscape-scale conservation that you can taste.”

❤︎ Pizzicletta

Local favorite Pizzicletta has been serving up traditional Neapolitan pizza in Flagstaff since 2011. Located in the heart of our historic downtown area, it’s a perfect stop during a night out on the town or for dinner with the family!

❤︎ Steep Tea Lounge

Located just across the street from Heritage Square, Steep Tea Lounge offers a selection of fresh iced and hot teas by the cup. Kick back and relax in Steep’s cozy cafe atmosphere, or browse their collection of loose leaf teas, teawares, pottery, fine art, and other unique gifts. During the month of February, Steep will offer a Pluto-themed tea special to their customers!

❤︎ Historic Brewing Co.

Historic Brewing Company brews up craft beer and awesomeness, both at their Historic Taproom production facility on the east side of Flagstaff and their downtown Historic Barrel + Bottle House location downtown. On FebruaryDuring the festival, Historic will offer a “Pluto Sky” blueberry sour, Pluto cocktail, and 10% discount with Lowell GA Pass at the Barrel + Bottle House during Pluto Pub Crawl.

❤︎ Mother Road Brewing Co.

Mother Road Brewing Company is Arizona’s third-largest independent craft brewer. Founded in 2011, their mission is to brew distinguished beers and build community, one pint at a time. Mother Road will unveil yet another limited-edition Pluto-themed beer for the festival, which will be unveiled at the Cheers to Pluto! Beer Unveiling and Astronomy on Tap event on the evening of February 16.

❤︎ Wil’s Grill

Founded by two best friends on the streets of Flagstaff in 2014, Wil’s Grill has become northern Arizona’s premier catering service. They offer cuisine that mixes tradition with innovation to suit a wide range of tastes and preferences, made with locally-sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible. Wil’s Gril will be serving food on Lowell’s campus from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, February 18. Come give it a try!

❤︎ Starlite Lanes Bowling Alley

Starlite Lanes has been Flagstaff’s local bowling alley since 1958! Located on Route 66, they are proud to state that throughout these sixty-four years, the bowling alley has always been owned and operated by a Flagstaff family. The bar located inside Starlite Lanes will be serving a special Pluto cocktail called ‘From Pluto with Love’ (complete with a heart-shaped lollipop to represent Pluto’s “heart”) for the whole month of February!

❤︎ Fratelli Pizza

At Fratelli Pizza, they bake pizza the right way: in a stone-deck oven! Every Fratelli pizza starts life as homemade dough in our kitchen and is then proofed, hand tossed, combined with the freshest ingredients and baked to crispy, golden perfection. They’ve been voted best pizza in Flagstaff every year since 2002!

❤︎ Atria

Nestled in the heart of historic downtown, Atria is Flagstaff’s new home for farm-fresh modern American fare, craft cocktails and more. Join them for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, and savor their seasonal menu featuring fine seafood, hearty steaks, house-made pastas and locally-grown goodness!

❤︎ Northern Pines

As a locally owned restaurant, the staff of Northern Pines considers it their responsibility to promote an authentic experience specific to the Flagstaff area. Their menu is composed of high quality, mouth-watering meals that are reasonably priced. If you’re not hungry, come enjoy their modern, yet cozy, lounge area. Of their fifteen beers on tap, over half are brewed right here in Arizona. They proudly serve steaks cut and aged by Randall’s Fine Meats, and they  include only the most delicious, pure ingredients, including real butter and Satchmo’s seasonings.

❤︎Dirty Birdies

Dirty Birdies serves a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their menu has something for everyone, including happy hour specials, breakfast staples, and delicious burgers. Stop by to watch the game, meet up with friends, or enjoy a meal with the family!

❤︎ Little America

When you stay at Little America Flagstaff in Flagstaff, you’ll be in a national park, within a 5-minute drive of Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. This hotel is 15.4 miles from Arizona Snowbowl and 2 miles from West of the Moon Art Gallery. Enjoy a range of recreational amenities, including a spa tub, a fitness center, and a seasonal outdoor pool. Little America will be offering a dinner special and lodging promotion in honor of the festival!

❤︎ Boricua Luna

Authentic Puerto Rican Food located in Flagstaff that proudly serves authentic Puerto Rican food. They are best known for their arroz con gandules and pernil, and it’s the only place in Flagstaff you can find it! They bring great food to locations all over our city. Their truck is more than just a place to grab lunch; it’s also a place to try out new dishes created by a great Puerto Rican chef and made from fresh local ingredients. The Boricua Luna truck will be on Mars Hill serving up fresh Puerto Rican faire from 1pm-8pm each day of the festival.

❤︎ North Country Health Care

Looking for a doctor close to campus? North Country Health Care provides students with top care, close to campus. Schedule an appointment at their University Ave. location, conveniently located one mile from NAU’s campus, with plenty of free parking. NCHC will have a booth set up at the Night of Discovery event on the 18th, so be sure to stop by!

❤︎ Late for the Train

Late for the Train has been brewing community in a world-class cup since 1993. This homey coffee shop specializes in dark roasts and offers a variety of specialty drinks, plus light fare. As a local, independent coffee roastery, Late for the Train vies globally with other roasters to create exceptional coffees. Once a coffee arrives at the roastery, it is carefully roasted by hand in small batches. Late for the Train will be offering a special Galaxy Mocha for a limited time this month in honor of the I Heart Pluto Festival!

❤︎ Hops On Birch

Nestled in Flagstaff’s historic downtown area, Hops on Birch was founded in 2012. It was opened with a big vision in mind: to offer some of the best craft beer, wine and service in Arizona. Hops offers unique beers from breweries from across Arizona and the US. They have also always been known for being extremely dog friendly and having a beautiful patio. Hops of Birch will be offering a special Pluto brew during the festival. Don’t forget to stop by to check it out during the Pluto Pub Crawl!

❤︎ Rendezvous at the Monte Vista

Opened in 2003 by the owner of the Monte Vista hotel, with an intention of creating a special meeting place for community members and tourists to come together, the Rendezvous Lounge is the perfect space to gather for everything from work and study to friends and date nights. They serve locally roasted, artisanal coffee from their state-of-the-art espresso machine, as well as craft cocktails from a seasonal menu featuring house-made bitters, syrups, juices and liquor infusions, expertly curated by their creative staff of bartenders and baristas. The Rendezvous also offers a thoroughly deluxe selection of spirits as well as a rotating draught system featuring several local brews. Their in-house baker puts out fresh cookies, muffins and breakfast burritos daily. Stop by for a drink during the Pluto Pub Crawl!

❤︎ Lumberyard Brewing Co.

Housed in one of the last standing buildings of Flagstaff’s Lumber era, Lumberyard Brewing Company has been brewing award-winning beers for people who love to drink it since 2010. With a full menu, large patio, and tons of drink specials and weekly events, Lumberyard Brewing has something for everyone. At the ‘Yard, it’s not just about the attitude, it’s all about the altitude. The Lumberyard will be participating in the Pluto Pub Crawl, so be sure to stop by! Ask for the Pluto Special.

❤︎ The Annex

The Annex is, hands down, Northern Arizona’s premier cocktail lounge. Their expert cocktail leadership collaborates with their top-notch bartenders every season to create cocktails unlike any you’ve experienced before — it’s art, in a glass! Try out their special Pluto cocktail, available this month only.

❤︎ NiMarco’s Pizza

NiMarco’s is Flagstaff’s hometown pizzeria, and it won Best of Flag’s Best Pizza award in 2022. Their original store is located downtown, just south of the tracks on Beaver Street. Their second location is right at the entrance of NAU on Milton Road, and their brand new third location is located on the east side of town on the corner of Kaspar Drive and historic Route 66. Stop by for a bite during the Pluto Pub Crawl!

❤︎ Flagstaff Brewing Co.

Flagstaff Brewing Company was opened in July of 1994 with the mission to provide craft-brewed beer and a robust whiskey selection to a thirsty mountain town. Aiming to further the ambiance of great brewpubs, Flagbrew (as the locals like to call it), provides a casual and friendly atmosphere, which anyone should expect from a genuine brewpub. FBC will be a stop on the Pluto Pub Crawl, so swing by to try their special Pluto cocktail.

❤︎ Monte V Cocktail Lounge

Historically, The Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge was the first speakeasy in Flagstaff, welcoming everyone from celebrities and law-breakers to skiers and river runners. During prohibition, the Cocktail Lounge opened and successfully ran a major bootlegging operation in the very same location as today! Come 1931, the Cocktail Lounge was raided by officials and was forced to close their doors until prohibition ended two years later. For five years, 1935 to 1940, the Monte V offered the only slot machines to ever appear in Flagstaff. The Monte V Cocktail Lounge will offer a special Pluto cocktail for a limited time this month.

❤︎ Brews and Cues

Brews & Cues is a 21-and-up bar located right next door to Beaver Street Brewery. With 5 full-sized pool tables, TVs, and a wide selection of draft beers, regional craft beer cans, specialty craft cocktails, and happy hour specials, it’s the perfect place to meet some friends, kick-back, play some games, and have a good time! Stop buy to try out their limted-edition Pluto cocktail.

❤︎ Pepsi Cola

Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Flagstaff brings you the best brands in the business, backing them up with 24/7 customer service, hiring and training only the most qualified people, and always giving back to their community. Pepsi will be offering a free tasting of their new Starry lemon-lime soda at the Night of Discovery event!

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NStott_Cupola
02/062023

Nicole Stott Headlines I Heart Pluto Festival

2023 News, Blog, Event

By Kevin Schindler, Lowell Historian

As Lowell Observatory Director Jeff Hall has explained, the mission of Lowell Observatory can be distilled down to this – communicating science. Our scientists explore the universe and communicate their findings to colleagues around the world, while our educators share the excitement of this science with the public. A key ingredient of this effort is inspiration – the inspiration to wonder, the inspiration to learn, the inspiration to explore and discover. 

The I Heart Pluto Festival’s signature event—the Night of Discovery—celebrates this very inspiration. And Astronaut Nicole Stott, keynote speaker of this year’s Night of Discovery, perfectly sets the tone.

A Florida native, Stott studied aviation administration and engineering management in college, graduating with a B.S. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an M.S. from the University of Central Florida. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000, she twice lived on the International Space Station (ISS), spending a total of 104 days in space. Part of her training involved living undersea for 18 days on the Aquarius undersea research habitat. While on the ISS, she became the first person to paint in space and participated in the first live tweet-up from space.

During her time above—and below—the surface of Earth, Stott saw the world in a much different way. This galvanized her to a life’s mission of sharing her observations with people around the world in the hopes of inspiring them to wonder, explore for themselves, and be active stewards for the good of our home planet. 

One of Stott’s most impactful—in fact, life-altering—experiences of space travel was gazing out the window of the ISS at Mother Earth, seeing the entire world from the outside as a tiny outpost in space. This “Earthrise Moment” (as first experienced by the Apollo 8 Moon mission in 1968), really struck Stott. Sure, she knew that we live on a planet, but to see that planet from space, with the knowledge that all life as we know it exists together on that tiny world, was eye-opening. From that vantage point, life on the planet is not male or female, black or white, Democrat or Republican, American or Chinese, or even human or non-human. We are all simply Earthlings, and we’re highly dependent on each other for survival. From that perspective, political and other contrived borders don’t matter. The only line that really matters to all life on Earth is the thin blue ribbon of our atmosphere. 

Stott’s epiphanous Earthrise Moment, and subsequent observations from space, inspired her to take action and communicate the need to work together as Earthlings to take care of our fragile planet. For instance, she co-founded the Space for Art Foundation with the goal of “uniting a planetary community of children through the awe and wonder of space exploration and the healing power of art”. 

Stott travels around the world (these days this travel is on, not above Earth) sharing her experiences from space, inspiring people young and old to be aware of the world around them and to actively take care of it. Don’t be a passenger on Spaceship Earth, she encourages, be a crew member.

Astronaut/aquanaut/space artist Nicole Stott is the keynote speaker for the Night of Discovery, the cornerstone event of the Fourth Annual I Heart Pluto Festival. The Night of Discovery takes place on February 18 at the Orpheum Theater. Doors open at 6pm and the program begins at 7pm. Afterward, Stott will sign copies of her book, Back to Earth. For ticket information, see https://wl.seetickets.us/event/I-HeartPlutoNightOfDiscovery/524524?afflky=OrpheumTheater 

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The Runway's Galaxy's Edge Pluto Cocktail
02/092022

I♥Pluto Festival 2022 | Meet Our Out-of-this-World Community Partners

Blog, News I Heart Pluto Festival

Photo: The Runway’s Galaxy’s Edge Pluto Cocktail

The only thing we love more than Pluto here on Mars Hill is our incredible Flagstaff community! This year, the I♥Pluto Festival is being supported by a few integral players in Flagstaff’s food, drink, and entertainment scenes. Read on to learn what our stellar sponsors are bringing to the table (besides their love for Pluto, of course!).

 

The Runway Nightlife and Eats (Our Top-Tier Sponsor!)

The Runway is a laid-back coffee house by day, and Flagstaff’s hottest club by night! As Flagstaff’s premier location for the LGBT+ nightlife experience, this veteran-owned and operated venue hosts weekly drag shows, karaoke, and performances by local bands. During the I Heart Pluto Festival, VIP guests will be taken to Runway during their off-campus tour for 45 minutes of drinks and appetizers. They have also created a special limited-time beverage for the occasion: The Galaxy’s Edge Pluto Frozen Cocktail!

The Galaxy’s Edge Pluto Frozen Cocktail is made with Ciroc Red Berry Vodka, Blue Curacao, fresh lime juice, raspberry syrup, cranberry juice, and sweet n’ sour. The drink is served frozen, mixed with bar glitter, and rimmed with blue raspberry Pop Rocks.  

Mother Road Brewing Company

Mother Road Brewing Company is Arizona’s 3rd-largest independent craft brewer. Since 2011, their mission has been to brew distinguished beers and build community, one pint at a time. For the first-ever I Heart Pluto Festival in 2020, they brewed up a delicious Pluto Porter. This year, they’ve created Lowell Lager, a bright, crisp blend that’s sure to please! You can get a taste of this limited-time brew during the I Heart Pluto Art Reception. Just purchase a beer ticket and present it to the craft-masters at Mother Road’s pop-up bar to get a can.  

Peppercorn Games

Goddess Hecate standing in front of Percival Lowell’s mausoleum.

Peppercorn Games specializes in interactive theater and gaming experiences, featuring live actors! During the I Heart Pluto Art Show Reception, they will be offering an immersive theater experience featuring Greek gods Persephone, Hecate, Demeter, Pluto (Hades), Hermes, and Helios! To get the full story, you must speak to each of the actors to learn their side of the legend. Upon completion, you’ll receive a special token to take home with you. This experience is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Art Show Reception on Saturday, February 12.  

Findlay Toyota Flagstaff

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line vehicle in Flagstaff, our local Findlay Toyota dealership is the place to go! Findlay Toyota Flagstaff is a certified J.D.Power Dealer of Excellence, a distinction that reflects the commitment and dedication of select retailers to provide their customers with a purchase experience that meets today’s consumer expectations. Starting at 4pm during the Pluto Art Reception, Findlay will be grilling and serving burgers and hotdogs on a first come, first served basis, so don’t miss out! Food is free with general admission to the Art Show.  

FlagTag AZ

FlagTag AZ are your Northern Arizona fun specialists! This venue offers laser tag, axe throwing, arcades, and a pizza cafe, so it’s sure to have something for everyone in your group to enjoy. FlagTag will be set up for Pluto-themed axe throwing at the Orpheum Theater during the Night of Discovery event on Friday, February 18. See if you can discover Planet X by hitting the x that marks the spot! This version of axe throwing will also be available to play at their Route 66 location.

Fratelli Pizza

Who’s hungry? At Fratelli Pizza, they bake pizzas the right way – in a stone deck oven. This locally-owned restaurant’s commitment to quality has earned it the title of Flagstaff’s Best Pizza every year since 2002. Visit any of its three Flagstaff locations to enjoy a slice of heaven! For a $10 small pizza and an ice-cold drink, just ask for the ‘Pluto Special’ when you visit during the month of February.  

Historic Brewing Company

Historic Brewery’s “Not a Real Cocktail”

Since 2013, Historic Brewing Company has brought quality craft beer to the Flagstaff community in a bold and intentional way. Throughout their spaces, you’ll experience mainstay brews like the beloved Piehole Porter, seasonal favorites like Undercover Cucumber, and unique limited-release brews that have a fan base of their own. In honor of the I Heart Pluto Festival, Historic will be offering a specialty Pluto-theme cocktail at their downtown Flagstaff location throughout the month of February.  

Karma Sushi Bar & Grill

Karma Sushi serves up fresh, beautiful food in an equally fresh and beautiful venue! Enjoy unique sushi rolls, tempura, specialty cocktails and more in one of Flagstaff’s highest-rated restaurants. For this year’s festival, Karma is bringing back its iconic Pluto Roll, which will be available throughout the month of February.  

Northern Arizona DX Association

Get ready to ham it up! The Northern Arizona DX Association will be on Mars Hill doing ham radio demonstrations every day during the festival.  

The Orpheum Theater

The historic Orpheum Theater (originally named the Majestic Theater) has stood in Flagstaff since 1911. Since then, it has hosted countless performances, movie showings, concerts, and more. It was also the very place where Clyde Tombaugh went to watch a movie on the day he discovered Pluto in 1930! Today, the Orpheum’s rich history continues with its hosting of A Night Of Discovery at the Orpheum Theater, a special event that commemorates Pluto’s discovery.

Click here to buy tickets and to learn more about the world-renowned scientists who will be speaking at the Night of Discovery event on Feb 18, including:

  • Dr. Alan Stern (PI of New Horizons Mission)
  • Dr. Donald Johanson (discoverer of the hominid Lucy fossil)
  • Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg (four-time astronaut)
  • Dr. Cathy Olkin (PI of Lucy Mission), and
  • Alden Tombaugh (son of Clyde Tombaugh).

Southwest Conservation Adventures

Get incredible nighttime portraits done by local astrophotographer Evan Thibodeau with Southwest Conservation Adventures! During the Art Show Reception and on Valentine’s Day here on Mars Hill, you can get your portrait taken with the beautiful observatory backdrop with a professional night-sky photographer. Professional portraits will be provided for $20 per couple or $15 per individual, with free digital downloads and an option to purchase physical prints through the photographer.

Create an incredible Valentine’s Day memory and capture it with a night-time photo!  

International Association of Astronomical Artists

Pluto Sunrise by Michael Carroll

Lowell Observatory is pleased to present a group exhibition of works featuring artists of the International Association of Astronomical Artists.

The International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA), is a non-profit organization whose members implement and participate in astronomical and space art projects, promote education about space art and foster international cooperation in artistic work inspired by the exploration of the Universe.

The IAAA became a nonprofit foundation in 1988 and now has 201 members from 23 countries from around the planet. The organization serves the community of artists creating works inspired by astronomy and outer space, serving as a networking resource on topics specific to the trade as well as issues common to professional artists.

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Panelists for the 3rd Annual I Heart Pluto Festival: Dr. Donald Johanson, Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg, Dr. Alan Stern, Dr. Cathy Olkin, Alden Tombaugh, Dr. Jeff Hall
01/062022

A Night of Discovery: Keynote Event of Lowell Observatory’s 3rd Annual I Heart Pluto Festival

2022 News, Blog, Event, News I Heart Pluto Festival

A Night of Discovery
Orpheum Theatre
February 18, 2021
5-8:30pm

Lowell Observatory presents a Night of Discovery, commemorating the anniversary of Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of the icy world Pluto on February 18, 1930. This is the keynote event of the 3rd Annual I Heart Pluto Festival.

Meet Eminent Scientists

Headlining this year’s event is a panel discussion (“Exploring the Universe Near and Far”) that looks at our human fascination with exploration and discovery, from nearby nooks on Earth to the far reaches of the universe. The panel includes:

  • Dr. Donald Johanson, discoverer of the fossil hominid Lucy
  • Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond *Note: Dr. Stern will be joining the event virtually
  • Dr, Nancy Currie-Gregg, astronaut who flew 4 times in space
  • Dr. Cathy Olkin, Deputy Principal Investigator of the Lucy mission to study asteroids
  • Alden Tombaugh, son of Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh
  • Dr. Jeffrey Hall, Lowell Observatory Director, will moderate the discussion

The program will be followed by a panelist book signing. Books by several of the panelists, as well as commemorative posters and other items to be signed, will be available for purchase onsite.

Explore Space Art Displays

The International Astronomical Artists Association (IAAA) will display a variety of space-themed art throughout the Orpheum. The IAAA consists of artists and scientists-artists who implement and participate in astronomical and space art projects.

Quench Your Thirst with Lowell Observatory Lager

Back by popular demand is a Pluto-themed beer created specially for this event by Mother Road Brewing Company, Arizona’s third largest independent craft brewer. This year’s beer is Lowell Observatory Lager! Other drinks—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic—as well as food will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

Why the Orpheum?

Why hold this event at the Orpheum Theatre? Because Clyde Tombaugh watched a movie here on the night of his great discovery in 1930. Plus, the Orpheum’s accessibility, comfort, and old-time charm, make it a perfect venue.

Tickets: Available at the door or in advance at https://wl.seetickets.us/event/A-NightofDiscovery/459232?afflky=OrpheumTheater. Cost is $10 per adult, $7 per youth ages 5-17 (plus tax and sales fee).

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Clyde_W._Tombaugh
02/172021

Who Was Clyde Tombaugh?

2021 News, Blog

Photo: Clyde Tombaugh stands with one of his homemade telescopes.

The eldest of six children, Clyde Tombaugh was born on a farm near Streator, Illinois. He began helping his father around the farm at an early age, planting corn, threshing oats and wheat, and various other labor-intensive tasks. He loved reading in his spare time, particularly on the subjects of geography and history. Exploring the world, both in the past and the present, helped make small-town farm life feel a little less small. When Clyde reached his teenage years, however, the world wasn’t enough—the thought of what lay beyond it captured his imagination, and astronomy took over as his favorite interest. Clyde was lent a three-inch telescope and an astronomy book by his Uncle Lee. Clyde would later say it was this book that introduced him the astronomers who would become his heroes: Galileo Galilei, William Herschel, and Percival Lowell.

In 1920, Clyde’s father and uncle purchased a 2¼ -inch telescope from Sears-Roebuck, which Clyde would use to view the cosmos as often as he could. Two years later, the Tombaugh family relocated to Burdette, Kansas, in search of better farming conditions. There, Clyde was overjoyed to discover that the dark skies provided ideal viewing conditions for his telescope.

Clyde became adept at building his own facilities to suit his various interests around the farm, including a football field and tennis court in the family’s pasture, and of course, his own telescopes. The first telescope he built was an 8-inch reflector, constructed with pine board tubes and repurposed farm machinery. Without a temperature-constant environment to test the telescope in, the final product fell short of Clyde’s expectations. To improve his mirror-making capabilities, he used a pick and shovel to dig an underground testing room that doubled as a storage cellar and tornado shelter. After he cemented the walls and ceiling, it became the perfect place to grind telescope mirrors into the right figure.

Clyde Tombaugh, standing at the entrance to the Pluto Discovery Dome.

In February of 1927, he built a 7-inch reflector that he sold to his uncle. He used the money to begin building a 9-inch telescope, which he finished early in 1928. That same year, the Tombaugh family’s crops were destroyed by a hailstorm, and Clyde realized that the farm life wasn’t for him. He was offered a job by a Wichita telescope maker, but before he could accept it, an even better offer fell into his lap. Clyde had been reading some of his older issues of Popular Astronomy Magazine when he saw an observation report on Mars written by staff members from Lowell Observatory. Inspired, he sent some of the drawings he’d created while observing the planets to V.M. Slipher, then Lowell Observatory’s director. After exchanging several letters with Slipher, Clyde received one that would change his life forever. In it, Slipher offered him a position at the observatory on a trial basis, stating that if he could prove his worth to the observatory, he would be offered a more permanent position there.

As we now know, Clyde would go on to discover Pluto, the fabled “Planet X” that Percival Lowell had spent much of his life searching for, within a mere few months of rekindling the search. He then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astronomy from the University of Kansas, fulfilling his lifelong dream of attending college. Clyde would study astronomy for the rest of his life, even after leaving Lowell Observatory in 1945. He taught astronomy at New Mexico State University from 1955 until his retirement in 1973. During World War II, he contributed his experience to the effort by teaching naval personnel navigation at Northern Arizona University and working at White Sands Missile Range. He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1980. He died on January 17, 1997, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at age 90. A small portion of his ashes was placed aboard the New Horizons spacecraft, which flew by Pluto in 2015.

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02/102021

Secrets of Lowell: The Pluto Discovery Dome

2021 News, Blog
Photo: The Pluto Discovery Dome | Sarah Gilbert

Construction on the building known today as the Pluto Discovery Dome was completed in September of 1928, 11 years and 10 months after the death of observatory founder and Planet X seeker Percival Lowell. Though Percival himself would not live to see his Planet X found, this unassuming, two-story telescope dome made of local basalt rock is where the decades-long quest would finally come to an end.

A New Beginning

The fevered search for Planet X was placed on hold for nearly a decade after Percival’s passing in November of 1916, due large in part to a tense legal battle between the observatory and his widow, Constance Lowell, concerning the contents of his will.  This, coupled with the onset of World War 1, brought the observatory to the brink of financial ruin. By 1927, however, the role of sole trustee had been passed onto Roger Lowell Putnam, Percival’s nephew. Determined to bring the observatory back to prominence after a period of financial hardship and low morale, Roger resurrected his uncle’s tireless search for the 9th planet in our solar system. To accomplish this, he enlisted the help of then-director V.M. Slipher. While Slipher planned out the construction of a telescope dome, Roger went about searching for a telescope to inhabit it.

Building a Piece of History

For the location of the telescope dome, Slipher chose a hill located 100 yards west of the observatory’s administration building (now known as the Slipher Building), on land leased from the U.S. Forest Service. This land, as well as the acres behind it, would later become observatory property. Construction on the dome began in early 1928, lead by observatory instrument maker Stanley Sykes. Stanley used a design very similar to the one that his brother Godfrey had used to construct the Clark Telescope Dome decades earlier, employing the same inverted bucket shape for the dome’s roof. The most significant difference in the new design was the addition of a second story, where the telescope itself would be housed and operated. The walls were constructed with cement and Malpais rock* collected from the observatory grounds.

An original sketch of the 13″ Lawrence Lowell Telescope.

Meanwhile, Roger searched for a telescope manufacturer to make use of three partially figured, 13 inch-diameter glass discs acquired from the estate of recently-deceased optician Joel Metcalf, who had been working on the discs at the time of his death. After looking into several options, Roger chose Robert Lundin of Alvin Clark & Sons, whose father had assisted in the construction of the Clark, for the task of assembling a 40-inch reflector to be used in the renewed search for Planet X. The telescope would be an astrograph, meaning that it would be designed solely for the purpose of taking photos of celestial objects. The scope was officially named the Lawrence Lowell Telescope, after Percival’s brother, Abbott Lawrence Lowell.

*A type of basalt found in the Southwestern U.S., Mexico, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking regions of the world. Many of the buildings on our Mars Hill campus and around the town of Flagstaff are constructed with it!

Not in Kansas Anymore

While construction on the telescope and its dome progressed, Slipher received a letter from Clyde Tombaugh, a 23-year-old farm boy from Kansas asking for a professional opinion on the sketches he had made while observing planets through his homemade telescope. Impressed, Slipher exchanged several letters with Tombaugh before offering him a job at the observatory on a trial basis. Slipher was somewhat vague about what Tombaugh’s responsibilities would include, alluding to photography and janitorial work, but stated that he might be offered a more permanent position at the observatory if he could prove his usefulness. As history would show, Tombaugh would go on to prove his worth and then some. He accepted Slipher’s offer and arrived in Flagstaff on January 15, 1929, two weeks after receiving the letter.

Clyde Tombaugh at the guide scope for the 13″ astrograph.

The astrograph and its dome were completed the following month of the same year, and the first exposure was taken on February 16. It was in this dome that Clyde would spend many cold, tedious nights alone, guiding the telescope in search of the elusive Planet X. On one of these such nights, Clyde found himself suddenly feeling very warm and sleepy in the otherwise freezing telescope dome. Had he not recognized this as a sign of hypothermia setting in, he might have frozen to death. On another night, he was trapped inside the dome for several hours while a hungry mountain lion prowled outside. However, these hardships would pay off in a big way on February 18, 1930—exactly 1 year and 34 days following the date that Tombaugh first began his employment at Lowell. He discovered Planet X, which he would later name Pluto, while comparing two exposures he had taken with the astrograph.

Today, the Pluto Discovery Dome stands as a monument to an unforgettable moment in astronomy history. Though the Lawrence Lowell Telescope is no longer used for observation, it was refurbished in 2017 along with the dome to ensure that its legacy can be preserved for generations to come.

 

The Pluto Telescope before it was refurbished in 2017.The Pluto Telescope before it was refurbished in 2017.
The Pluto Telescope after being refurbished.The Pluto Telescope after being refurbished.

New Additions

If you look closely at the telescope, you’ll notice a red boxing glove attached to its metal arm. Ralph Nye, who maintained the Lowell telescopes in the 1990’s, was working on the telescope when he hit his head on the end of the arm. This made him see the wrong kind of stars, so he added the glove as a cushion to prevent it from happening again.

Hidden in a cabinet beneath the motor that drives dome movement is a time capsule. It contains Pluto memorabilia including scientific publications, a hat Clyde Tombaugh wore while observing, and a pencil used by scientists during the 2015 New Horizons Mission. Created in collaboration with New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern, the capsule is to remain sealed until an orbiter is sent to explore the surface of Pluto.

Check out Secrets of Lowell on Tiktok!
@lowellobservatoryWhat’s in that time capsule? And how did that boxing glove get up there? 🤔 The observatory is full of mysteries, but our blog may have some answers.♬ Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller

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The Pluto Telescope after being refurbished.
02/022021

The Discovery of Pluto

2021 News, Blog, News #2021
Photo: The Pluto Discovery Telescope

By Kevin Schindler

Percival Lowell postulated the existence of a planet beyond Neptune and began to search for it in 1905.

He spent his remaining 11 years in a mathematical and observational search for the elusive “trans-Neptunian” planet. Upon Lowell’s death in 1916, the search was suspended while the Observatory went through protracted legal wrangling about Lowell’s estate. In 1927, once the estate was finally settled, Percival’s brother — Harvard University President A. Lawrence Lowell — provided the funds needed to construct the telescope and dome you can still see every day here on guided tours.

The Pluto Discovery Plates, courtesy Lowell Observatory Archives

The glass plates Tombaugh painstakingly compared in order to locate Pluto. | Lowell Observatory Archives

The new telescope was completed in 1929, and the Observatory hired a farm boy from Kansas named Clyde Tombaugh, who had impressed director V. M. Slipher with some unsolicited sketches, to help renew the search.

The process was laborious: Tombaugh would photograph the same part of sky several days apart and use a Zeiss Blink Comparator to detect the motion of a nearby planet against the more distant “fixed” stars. Once Tombaugh got going toward the end of 1929, the discovery came remarkably fast: on February 18, 1930, he detected the distant planet on plates taken on the 23rd and 29th of January.

The discovery was announced March 13, 1930. On the evening of March 12, director V.M. Slipher sent a telegram to the Harvard College Observatory. The telegram’s message was used to create Harvard College Observatory Announcement Card 108, which officially announced the new planet’s discovery and was released on the 13th. Slipher wrote a more detailed account of the discovery and printed it as a Lowell Observatory Observation Circular, also releasing it on the 13th. Astronomer Carl Lampland was busy as well on this day. On behalf of the Observatory, he presented the Lowell Prize to the top mathematics student at Arizona State Teacher’s College at Flagstaff (today known as Northern Arizona University). The ceremony was in front of a 500-person audience in Ashurst Hall. As part of his speech, Lampland made the first public announcement of the new planet’s discovery. Unfortunately, few, if any, of the audience members heard this important message, since the soft-spoken Lampland could not be heard in the echo-filled, uncarpeted room. The announcement date was significant, for it had been March 13, 1781 that William Herschel discovered Uranus. Also, March 13, 1930 would have been Percival Lowell’s 75th birthday, a fitting tribute to the man whose inspiration led to the discovery of this new planet by Clyde Tombaugh.

Check Out #TeamPluto!

90 years ago, Pluto was discovered by scientists at Lowell Observatory. In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. How did this happen? This Discovery documentary follows YouTube star and TV host Nick Uhas and a team of esteemed scientists on the quest to understand the fierce fascination with Pluto’s planetary standing. Watch below:

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02/012021

This Week in Astronomy History | Feb. 1-7

2021 News, Blog, News #2021
Photo: Clyde Tombaugh studies photographic plates through the Blink Comparator | Lowell Observatory Archives

By Madison Mooney

Feb. 2, 1964: Ranger 6 crash-lands on the Moon

The Ranger 6 Robotic Spacecraft | NASA Headquarters – GReatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN) – Great Images in NASA Description

On February 2, 1964, the Ranger 6 probe was deliberately crash-landed on the surface of the Moon to obtain up-close, high-resolution photos of the lunar surface during the final minutes before impact. The probe made impact in the Sea of Tranquility, a lunar mare1 located in the Moon’s Tranquillitatis Basin. The probe carried 6 television cameras, each containing their own power supply and transmitter to ensure the highest probability of success. However, due to a failure in the probe’s camera system, no images could be returned to Earth.


1 A lunar mare (plural “maria”) is a large, dark, basaltic plain on Earth’s Moon, formed by volcanic activity. They were called maria (Latin for “seas”) by early astronomers who mistook them for bodies of water on the lunar surface.

Feb. 4, 1906: Clyde Tombaugh is born

Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh was born in Streator, Illinois on February 4, 1906. He is best known for his groundbreaking discovery of dwarf planet Pluto, then considered to be the 9th planet in our solar system, at Lowell Observatory in February of 1930. At the time of his discovery, Tombaugh was just 24 years old. He is also credited with the discovery of several asteroids, many of which were found as a byproduct of his search for Pluto and other celestial objects.

Tombaugh stands with one of his homemade telescopes | Unknown (Public Domain)

Tombaugh built his own telescopes from scratch while living on a farm with his parents in Burdett, Kansas. He was offered at job at Lowell Observatory in 1929 after sending sketches of Mars and Jupiter based on the observations he had made with his homemade telescopes. After discovering Pluto, he went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in astronomy at the University of Kansas, fulfilling a dream that had once been dashed by a storm that destroyed his family’s crops.

Tombaugh retired in 1973 after a long, fruitful career that included working at White Sands Missile Range, teaching personnel navigation at Northern Arizona University, and teaching astronomy at New Mexico State University. He died in Las Cruces, New Mexico on January 17, 1997.

Tombaugh received many honors and awards both before and after his death, including induction into the International Space Hall of Fame and the naming of the Tombaugh Regio, a heart-shaped surface feature of Pluto.

Feb. 5, 1971: Mariner 10 makes its closest approach to Venus and Apollo 14 lands on the Moon

A particularly eventful day in astronomy history, February 5, 1971 saw the Mariner 10 space probe make its closest approach to planet Venus and the 8th manned mission in the Apollo program, Apollo 14, complete a successful landing on the surface of the Moon.

Mariner 10’s approach to Venus

An artist’s rendering of the Mariner 10 probe in space | NASA

Mariner 10 was a robotic space probe launched on November 3, 1973, with a mission to complete flybys of Mercury and Venus and gather data on their environments, atmospheres, surfaces, and characteristics. It made its closest approach to Venus on February 5, 1971. After making its closest approach to Mercury on March 29, 1974, Mariner 10 became the first probe to successfully perform flybys of multiple planets, as well as the first to complete a dual-planet gravity assist mission.1

Apollo 14 landing

Alan Shepard standing with the American flag on the Moon | Edgar Mitchell, NASA

Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepherd, Edgar Mitchell, and Stuart Roosa began their journey to the Moon on January 31, 1971, touching down on the lunar surface 5 days later.

During their two surface walks, Shepherd and Mitchell collected Moon rocks and performed several scientific experiments. Perhaps most notably, Shepherd hit two golfballs he’d brought with him with a makeshift golf club. Meanwhile, Roosa remained in orbit to conduct experiments and photograph the lunar surface. At the request of the National Forest Service, he brought hundreds of tree seeds with him on the mission to be planted upon his return. The three astronauts touched down safely in the Pacific Ocean on February 9.


1 In the case of the Mariner 10 mission, the probe used Venus’s gravitational pull to “slingshot” itself toward Mercury.

Feb 6. 1994: Clementine enters lunar orbit

Artist’s rendering of Clementine fully deployed in space | Public Domain

Clementine (originally the Deep Space Program Science Experiment) was a lunar orbiter and asteroid probe launched by NASA and the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization on January 25, 1994. Its mission was to make detailed observations of the Moon and nearby asteroid 1620 Geographos, while also testing the effects of long-term exposure to space on its sensor and components. It failed to reach the asteroid because of a system malfunction, but was able to collect ultraviolet and infrared images of the lunar surface and measure various aspects of the Moon’s gravity and atmospheric pressure. Using data gathered by Clementine, scientists were able to create a detailed profile of conditions on the Moon’s surface.

The probe’s name was derived from the popular American folk ballad “Oh My Darling, Clementine,” as it would be “lost and gone forever” after its mission was over.

 

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