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24" Clark Refractor at Lowell Observatory

This is Percival Lowell's 24" refracting telescope at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ. It was built in Cambridge, Mass. in 1895-6 by Alvan Clark & Sons, hence the telescope's name. It is 32 feet long and, including the pier, mount, and counterweight, weighs over 13 tons.

 

Today, it is no longer used for research but for public education. I feel pretty privileged to be able to use this telescope on a nightly basis. It is a lot of fun and really shows folks what observational astronomy was like 100 years ago!

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Uploaded on August 16, 2011
Taken on August 15, 2011