Eileen Friel, who became the first woman to lead Lowell Observatory since its founding in 1894, is leaving after just a year on the job. Friel resigned to pursue other opportunities, according to a press release issued by the observatory this afternoon. Lowell Observatory Trustee William L. Putnam also announced today that longtime deputy director Jeffrey Hall will assume the responsibilities of interim director effective July 1. Read more
Lowell Observatory and Heritage Preservation have announced that Lowell Observatory has been chosen to participate in the 2010 Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). Lowell Observatory joins 2,700 museums that have participated in the CAP in its 20-year history.
Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory to Honour Legendary Astronomer Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff will dedicate a memorial to astronomer Robert Burnham, Jr. on Saturday, August 15.
Dr. Eileen Friel has accepted the appointment by Observatory Trustee, William Lowell Putnam, to be the next Director of Lowell Observatory. Dr. Friel will become the tenth Director of the Observatory.
"Lowell is enormously appealing to me. It is a first-rate research environment where my science fits comfortably and would utilise both existing and planned instrumentation. Its public programs are effective, fun, and full of promise. The facilities are beautiful and the tradition of real concern for every member of the staff is wise and responsible. I also have family ties to Flagstaff" - Dr. Eileen Friel.
Lowell Observatory millionth visitor Last month, Lowell Observatory celebrated one million visitors since 1994, and held an event in honour of the Steele Visitor Centre. Visitors were welcomed to Lowell Observatory at half -priced admission, and participated in various raffles with prizes such as a SkyQuest Dobsonian Telescope and a one-year membership in the Friends of Lowell granting the winner a free quarterly Lowell newsletter, free admission to more than 300 science centres worldwide and free admission to Lowell. Lowell featured a telescope viewing of the sun, demonstrative science experiments and tours of the observatory. Steele Visitor Centre, the main visitor building at Lowell Observatory, opened to Flagstaff residents in 1994.