Editing Lowell Observatory (section)

== Current research ==
Lowell Observatory's astronomers conduct research on a wide range of solar system and astrophysical topics using ground-based, airborne, and space-based telescopes. Among the many current programs are a search for [[near-Earth asteroid]]s, a survey of the [[Kuiper Belt]] beyond [[Neptune]], a search for [[extrasolar planets]], a decades-long study of the brightness stability of the sun, and a variety of investigations of star formation and other processes in distant galaxies. In addition, the Observatory staff designs and builds custom instrumentation for use on Lowell's telescopes and elsewhere. For example, Lowell staff built a sophisticated high-speed camera for use on the [[Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy]] (SOFIA). SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and [[German Aerospace Center|DLR]], the German space agency, and consists of a {{convert|2.5|m|ft|adj=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} telescope on board a Boeing 747 SP.

Lowell astronomers, Nick Moskovitz, Brian Skiff, and Tom Polakis also contributed observations in [[Double Asteroid Redirection Test|NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)]] using both the 1.1-meter John Hall Telescope and 4.3-meter [[Lowell Discovery Telescope]]. This experiment is the world's first full-scale planetary defense test.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schindler |first=Kevin |date=2023-03-02 |title=Press Release: Assessing the Impact of the DART Mission |url=https://lowell.edu/2023/03/02/press-release-assessing-the-impact-of-the-dart-mission/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Lowell Observatory |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Notable Discoveries ===
{{see also|Category:Discoveries by the Lowell Observatory|Planets beyond Neptune}}
* The dwarf planet [[Pluto]] by [[Clyde Tombaugh]] in 1930
* Large [[recessional velocity|recessional velocities]] of [[galaxies]] by [[Vesto Melvin Slipher]] between 1912 and 1914 (that led ultimately to the realization our universe is expanding)
* Co-discovery of the [[rings of Uranus]] in 1977<ref>{{cite journal | bibcode=1977Natur.267..328E |journal=Nature |volume=267 |date=1977 |pages=328–330 |title=The rings of Uranus |doi=10.1038/267328a0 |last1=Elliot |first1=J  |last2=Dunham |first2=T |last3=Mink |first3=D |issue=5609 }}</ref>
* The periodic variation in the activity of [[Comet Halley]] during the 1985/1986 apparition<ref>{{cite journal | bibcode=1990AJ....100..896S |journal=Astronomical Journal |volume=100 |date=1990 |pages=896–912 |title= Periodic variations in the activity of Comet P/Halley during the 1985/1986 apparition |doi=10.1086/115570 |last1=Schleicher |first1=David G. |last2=Millis |first2=Robert L. |last3=Thompson |first3=Don T. |last4=Birch |first4=Peter V. |last5=Martin |first5=Ralph |last6=Tholen |first6=David J. |last7=Piscitelli |first7=Joseph R. |last8=Lark |first8=Neil L. |last9=Hammel |first9=Heidi B. |display-authors=5 }}</ref>
* The three largest known stars
* The atmosphere of [[Pluto]]
* Accurate orbits for two of Pluto's moons: [[Nix (moon)|Nix]] and [[Hydra (moon)|Hydra]]
* Oxygen on [[Jupiter]]'s satellite [[Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]]
* [[Carbon dioxide ice]] on three Uranian satellites
* The first [[Neptune trojan|Trojan of Neptune]]
* Evidence that the atmosphere of [[HD 209458 b]] contains water vapor<ref>{{cite journal | bibcode=2007ApJ...661L.191B |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=661 |date=2007 |pages=L191–L194 |title=Identification of Absorption Features in an Extrasolar Planet Atmosphere |doi=10.1086/518736 |last1=Barman |first1=Travis |issue=2 | authorlink= Travis Barman |arxiv=0704.1114 }}</ref>