Lowell Observatory
Flagstaff, AZ
Lowell Observatory, founded in 1894, is where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Flagstaff was the first International Dark Sky City, and the observatory benefits from municipal lighting ordinances that preserve dark skies. The historic Clark Telescope dome and modern Discovery Channel Telescope provide iconic foreground subjects for night sky photography.
Photography Guide
- Best Time
- night
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Shot Types
- astrophotographylong-exposuredetailwide
- Best Seasons
- springsummerfallwinter
Gallery
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Nearby Places
Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Urban Trail System - Buffalo Park
Buffalo Park is a 215-acre open meadow on the north side of Flagstaff with unobstructed views of the San Francisco Peaks and surrounding volcanic landscape. As part of the world's first International Dark Sky City, the park benefits from Flagstaff's strict lighting ordinances. The open terrain and mountain horizon make it an accessible location for Milky Way photography with alpine foregrounds.
Flagstaff, AZ
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Walnut Canyon contains over 80 cliff dwelling rooms built by the Sinagua people around 1100-1250 CE within the limestone walls of a 400-foot-deep canyon. The monument sits east of Flagstaff in ponderosa pine forest and benefits from the city's dark sky protections. The canyon rim provides dramatic views of the forested canyon with ancient dwellings visible in alcoves along the cliff faces.
Flagstaff, AZ
Anderson Mesa Dark Sky Site
Anderson Mesa is a basalt-capped plateau southeast of Flagstaff that hosts several U.S. Naval Observatory and Lowell Observatory research telescopes. The mesa's 7,200-foot elevation and distance from Flagstaff's light dome provide Bortle Class 2-3 conditions. The flat, open terrain of the mesa top with scattered ponderosa pines offers accessible dark sky photography with natural foreground elements.