[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 95 (Thursday, June 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        RECOGNIZING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOWELL OBSERVATORY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TOM O'HALLERAN

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2019

  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, on May 28, 1894 Percival Lowell 
arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona Territory and officially began operations 
at his new astronomical observatory. This was one of the first 
permanent scientific establishments in the western United States and 
one of the most storied centers for scientific research and outreach in 
the world. As we celebrate Lowell Observatory's 125th anniversary this 
year, we not only look back to honor its rich heritage, but also look 
ahead to a future in which the sky is not the limit but the starting 
point.
  Percival Lowell was the scion of a Boston Brahmin clan steeped in the 
traditions of public service and community leadership. His siblings 
alone included brother Abbott Lawrence, president of Harvard University 
for 24 years, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Amy. Percival Lowell 
established his observatory initially to study Mars and the possibility 
of intelligent life there. He transcended science into pop culture by 
writing several popular books and lecturing widely. His provocative 
ideas triggered much discussion and debate--both within and outside of 
scientific circles--about extraterrestrial life. This standard set by 
Lowell to not only carry out research but to share the wonder and awe 
of space with the public led to the observatory's dual mission of 
research and education.
  Some significant contributions made at Lowell Observatory:
  V.M. Slipher detected the first evidence of the expanding universe in 
1912.
  Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930.
  At the urging of Lowell scientists, Flagstaff enacted the world's 
first dark skies ordinance in 1958. This laid the path for future 
regulations that culminated in the community's designation as the first 
International Dark Sky City, in 2001.
  Flagstaff continues to serve as a model for dark skies protection.
  The second class of astronauts, the so-called ``Next Nine'' that 
included Neil Armstrong, and Jim Lovell, visited Lowell Observatory in 
1963 to learn about the lunar mapping efforts going on here. This was 
part of a training exercise in northern Arizona that proved an 
important step in preparing the astronauts for their missions to the 
Moon.
  A team of scientists, including many from Lowell, discovered the 
rings of Uranus in 1977.
  Using observations with several research instruments, including 
Lowell Observatory's Perkins Telescope, Vera Rubin and Kent Ford 
confirmed the existence of dark; matter in 1978.
  A team of scientists, including many from Lowell, discovered Pluto's 
atmosphere in 1988.
  Lowell scientist Will Grundy served as a team leader on the New 
Horizons mission's 2015 exploration of Pluto. This mission returned 
stunning images of the only planet in our solar system discovered in 
the United States.
  Today, scientists at Lowell use a variety of ground-and space-based 
instruments for research--including Lowell Observatory's flagship 
Discovery Channel Telescope, one of the most versatile telescopes in 
the world. Meanwhile, the visitor program welcomes more than 100,000 
guests per year and in the fall will complete construction of the 
Giovale Open Deck Observatory, the first stage of a multi-year master 
plan that will greatly increase the observatory's educational reach.
  In recognition of Lowell's heritage of science, education, culture, 
and history, the observatory was designated a Registered National 
Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1965 and identified 
as an Arizona Treasure in 2005 by Governor Janet Napolitano. In 2011 
Time magazine named it one of ``The World's 100 Most Important 
Places.'' Also, Astronomy magazine Editor Dave Eicher recently 
nicknamed Lowell Observatory ``America's Observatory'' because of its 
``unique combination of astronomical history and famous discoveries''.

                          ____________________