Lowell Observatory & Economic Impact of DCT

"Since breaking ground on the Discovery Channel Telescope in 2003, construction of DCT has pumped over $14 million in direct spending into the state of Arizona; about 72% of this in Flagstaff. Arizona’s DCT contractors have provided highly skilled workers and technical services including design and construction of the DCT facility and dome, fabrication of structural components, primary mirror figuring, and mirror support design."

Read the rest of the story on the Lowell Observatory Blog Economic Impact of DCT.

Discovery Space Op-Ed

Yesterday, Lowell Observatory Blog highlighted the new op-ed piece by Bob Millis, Lowell Observatory's Director, on Discovery Space. It's called Who Stole the Night Sky?

Kudos for a great job of focusing attention on the growing problem of light pollution. Here is a taste of this important opinion piece, given a national venue by Discovery:

"If Arizona, for example, were to adopt statewide the lighting practices required by the ordinances in Flagstaff and Coconino County, a recent study shows the state would save $30,000,000 dollars per year and stop 14,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being annually pumped into the atmosphere. Imagine these savings if the entire United States were to follow suit."

Be sure to read the rest of the article and follow the links in it. One of them leads to a video about the "Happy Jack" telescope.

Take a Virtual Tour at Lowell

Did you know that the Discovery Channel Telescope is being built about forty miles southeast of Flagstaff?

See the site at Happy Jack for yourself. There's a photo tour here (click on red banner at bottom of page) on the Lowell Observatory website. While you're there be sure to check out the DCT Publication Archives.

There are lots of interesting pages to visit on Lowell's website, including the often updated blog. It's definitely on Everyday Scholar's list of blog picks.

Lowell Observatory by Jesse Gardner