February 25, 2009
Northern Arizona’s three premier scientific attractions have joined together to offer the Northern Arizona Exploration Pass. Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater, and the Museum of Northern Arizona are offering a $2 discount on admission with this pass.
Exploration Passes are available for no charge at the three attractions, as well as the Flagstaff Visitor Center next to the train station in downtown Flagstaff.
Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater, and the Museum of Northern Arizona share a history of scientific research and discovery. Visitors can now peer through the historic Clark Telescope, stand on the rim of the best-preserved meteorite impact crater on Earth, and experience a 93-million-year-old therizinosaur with this pass.
Lowell Observatory astronomers conduct a variety of research programs in solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy. Pluto was discovered there in 1930 and today, advanced astronomical concepts are now fun and accessible at the John Vickers McAllister Space Theatre. This computer-based planetarium has 15-minute shows from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and five-minute shows with the 24-inch Clark Telescope viewings in the evenings. The Rotunda Museum offers historic exhibits and hands-on children’s exhibits, and the Pluto Walk explores the scale of our solar system. Lowell Observatory is located on Mars Hill next to Flagstaff’s downtown and is open November through February from noon to 5 p.m. and March through October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nighttime programs begin at lowell.edu or 928/233-3211.
Meteor Crater is over 4,000 feet across and 550 feet deep. There is a crater observation area and for those with proper hiking shoes, there are one-hour guided rim tours from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., weather permitting. The Visitor Center has new displays on the never-ending process of impacts and collisions in our solar system. The Learning Center offers 24 exhibits about space, meteorites and asteroids, the solar system, and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet that impacted Jupiter. An actual Apollo space test capsule complements the American Astronaut Wall of Fame. And a ten-minute movie, Collisions and Impacts, about themes in the interactive displays, shows twice each hour. There is also a Gift Shop, a Subway sandwich shop, and an RV Park. Meteor Crater is located off of Interstate 40 at Exit 233, 35 miles east of Flagstaff. Crater information is at meteorcrater.com or 928/289-5898.
Serving as a gateway to understanding this unique region, the Museum of Northern Arizona evokes the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau. Visitors experience Native cultures, tribal lifeways, natural sciences, and fine arts in nine exhibit galleries. Therizinosaur—Mystery of the Sickle-Claw Dinosaur exhibits the most complete therizinosaur skeleton ever found from the newest and strangest dinosaur in North America. This was a once-in-a-lifetime find by MNA paleontologists and now the actual skeleton can be seen, just as it was found in the Tropic Shale rock in Big Water, Utah. A 13-foot tall mold of every bone has been assembled into an upright, in-motion stance, accompanied by interactive activities. The Museum Shop and
Bookstore are also on-site. The Museum is located three miles north of downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180.
Additional information is available at musnaz.org or 928/774-5213.