“Our goal is to strengthen the foundation of Lowell Observatory science,” said Bosh.
The new framework orbits around two defining pursuits: Planetary Defense, safeguarding the world from cosmic hazards like asteroids on a collision course with Earth; and Exoplanetary Research, seeking to understand distant worlds and the potential for life beyond our planet.
Thus, Executive Director Amanda Bosh says the observatory is consolidating resources and restructuring its science program to ensure the long-term sustainability of Lowell’s research mission, while expanding initiatives to build private support for future growth.
“Our goal is to strengthen the foundation of Lowell Observatory science,” said Bosh. “By focusing on our core research areas and building new endowments, we can ensure that Lowell continues to make discoveries that advance science and inspire the public.”
Meanwhile, the Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) will remain a guiding star for premier research collaborations. “We deeply value the partners who make that possible,” she said. “We are committed to continuing and strengthening those collaborations in the years ahead.”
“When Percival Lowell founded the observatory, he funded everything himself,” said Lowell Historian Kevin Schindler. “Through time, the funding landscape has changed. Grants became an important part of the equation, especially with the advent of space exploration. Lowell scientists have usually sought grants. And, if they could obtain funding to cover 80% of their costs, for example, Lowell would often pay for the rest. But the cost of doing science has gone up and at the same time grant funding is becoming less available.”
He notes that the award-winning Astronomy Discovery Center is a key revenue-generating satellite in the funding atmosphere. “It’s going to generate a lot more money than what it cost,” Schindler said, noting that attendance has doubled since the opening of the $53 million facility last November.
Focused Areas of Research
In Planetary Defense, Lowell Observatory’s contributions span more than a century. Schindler says early measurements of asteroid motions helped lay the groundwork for modern orbital science. Also, the observatory’s long-running LONEOS (Lowell Observatory Near-Earth-Object Search) program was one of NASA’s earliest and most productive asteroid detection efforts.
“That same expertise now drives Lowell’s ongoing tracking of potentially hazardous asteroids and comets, combining historical data with cutting-edge instrumentation to protect the planet and inform global defense strategies,” said Schindler.
Building on that legacy, Lowell Observatory played a key role in the world’s first Planetary Defense mission in 2022, DART (NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test), which crashed a rocket into an asteroid’s moon, effectively altering its path.
Exoplanetary Research
Carrying forward the same spirit of exploration that led to the discovery of Pluto, Lowell scientists now use high-precision photometry and spectroscopy to study the atmospheres and formation of planets orbiting distant stars. These efforts use Lowell’s unique optical and infrared capabilities to characterize planetary systems and trace their origins.
“With advanced instrumentation on the LDT and new upgrades expanding its reach, scientists are pushing closer to answering one of humanity’s oldest and perhaps most intriguing questions: Does life exist beyond our own world?” said Schindler.
Lowell’s New Structure of Science
To remain at the forefront of discovery while maneuvering with the gravity of budgetary forces, Lowell’s strategic energy is fueling four principal trajectories.
Lowell Mission Scientists are internally supported researchers who work in Planetary Defense and Exoplanetary Research. Lowell Independent Scientists are researchers funded by sources outside of the observatory, largely through targeted science grants.
Emeritus Status individuals will have continued access to collaborative research, publication and mentorship. And Percival Lowell Fellows will continue to represent the next generation of discovery, supported by endowments to explore and develop their research careers.
“For 130 years, Lowell Observatory has carried forward Percival Lowell’s vision: the study of astronomy with an emphasis on the solar system,” said Lowell Observatory Sole Trustee W. Lowell Putnam. “By exploring other worlds and solar systems, we better understand our own – what hazards exist and how we fit into the larger story of the cosmos. That mission remains unchanged. What is changing is how we fund and focus our research to ensure it endures.”
In the past year, as employees have moved on or retired, positions have been eliminated. Currently there are 135 staff members, down from 155 in 2024.
“We are building a future that our founder would recognize. One in which discovery is for scientists and the public who share in it,” Putnam added. “By taking these steps now, we are ensuring that Lowell Observatory’s legacy of discovery will remain strong for generations to come.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Courtesy Photo: The Lowell Discovery Telescope will continue to play a key role in the observatory’s science research pursuits.
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