How to drive the paved road to Lowell Observatory at Mars Hill in Arizona?
Mars Hill is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.210m (7,250ft) above sea level, located in Arizona, in the southwestern United States.
Where is Mars Hill?
The peak is located in Flagstaff, in the northern part of Arizona.
When was Lowell Observatory built?
Lowell Observatory is a historic astronomical research institution established in 1894 and founded by Percival Lowell. It is one of the oldest observatories in the United States and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Its most famous achievement came in 1930, when astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto using the observatory's 13-inch astrograph.
Why is it called Mars Hill?
The site's location was named Mars Hill in 1894 by its founder, wealthy Boston mathematician and astronomer Percival Lowell, who chose the name because the observatory's primary initial mission was to study the red planet—specifically driven by his theories regarding artificial Martian canals. While the broader geographic feature is known as Observatory Mesa, the specific hill housing the historic campus retains the name Mars Hill today.
How long is the road to Lowell Observatory?
The road to the summit is called West Mars Hill Road. It’s fully paved though pretty steep. Starting from Thorpe Road, the road to the summit is 1.28km (0.8 mile) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 89m (295 ft) and the average gradient is 6.95%.