Tonight at 7 p.m., Dr. Hunter will present, “The Formation of Galaxies”, in which she’ll outline the path from the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies and the first stars, as we know it from computer simulations and observations such as those of the microwave background radiation.

She’ll take a look at the cosmological simulations that show galaxies forming from dark matter mini-halos or from smooth accretion of material along filamentary structures in the early universe.

Tonight is also Flagstaff Night at Lowell Observatory, and all Flagstaff residents are admitted for half price.

This is Tim Burton’s 1996 film featuring an all-star cast mostly blown to bits by some extremely anti-social Martians. The film lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is rated PG.

Your regular admission to Lowell includes admission to the film, but seating is limited to 120 per show and tickets are required.

Join us for this classic movie, then stick around for telescope viewing and other evening activities.

Show times:

Tuesday August 10: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m.
Thursday August 12: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m.
Saturday August 14: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m.

This is the original 1953 version of H.G. Wells’s classic and it won the Academy Award for special effects. The film lasts 1 hour 25 minutes.

Your regular admission to Lowell includes admission to the film, but seating is limited to 120 per show and tickets are required.

Join us for this classic movie, then stick around for telescope viewing and other evening activities.

Show times:

Tuesday July 27: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m.
Thursday July 29: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m.
Saturday July 31: 6:30 and 8:15 p.m.

On July 20 the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau (FCVB) and the Flagstaff Lodging and Restaurant Association (FLRA) hosted the Second Annual Treasure Tourism Dinner and Flagstaff Tourism Awards at Little America Hotel in Flagstaff.

Heather Ainardi, FCVB Director, said “The Flagstaff Tourism Awards are our chance to recognize the outstanding members of the industry who drive local tourism and whose efforts help keep Flagstaff ranked as a top travel destination. This year’s winners are incredible examples of the passion and creativity it takes to be successful in this industry.”

Bill Putnam, grand nephew of Observatory founder Percival Lowell and sole trustee since 1987, won the award for Lifetime Achievement for his leadership in developing Lowell’s visitor program into a vibrant community resource.

Flagstaff City Manager Kevin Burke (left) presents Bill Putnam with Lifetime Achievement Award during July 20 ceremonies.

The Martians want more presents for their kids, so they kidnap Santa, who works his charms on them.

The film lasts 1 hour 21 minutes and is targeted for kids.

Your regular admission to Lowell includes admission to the film, but seating is limited to 120 per show and tickets are required.

Join us for this classic movie, then stick around for telescope viewing and other evening activities.

Show times:

Thursday July 15: 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
Saturday July 17: 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Geologist Grove Karl Gilbert was among the greatest geologists in American history. Among many other contributions to geology, Gilbert was the first to suggest that the crater at Coon Butte, Arizona Territories (now called Meteor Crater) was caused by a meteorite impact. After conducting field work studying the crater in 1891, Gilbert concluded that he was incorrect, and that a volcanic steam explosion was most likely responsible for the crater. This conclusion triggered a controversy over the origin of the crater that wasn’t completely resolved until the 1950’s.

The year is 1894, and we’ve invited Gilbert to take a break from his duties as chief geologist for the United States Geological Survey in Washington, D.C., and come to visit the brand new observatory founded by Percival Lowell here in Flagstaff. Gilbert will discuss his recent publication “The Moon’s Face,” and share his as yet unpublished observations on the origin of Coon Butte. Following Gilbert’s departure Dr. G. Kent Colbath will summarize the discoveries made at the crater after Gilbert’s study, with particular emphasis on the work of Daniel Barringer and his contemporaries in the early twentieth century.

Reservations are not needed for this program. Regular admission fees apply.

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Lowell Observatory’s Mars Mania Film Festival begins tonight and runs through the end of the summer. Every other week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights we will show a classic science fiction movie.

We kick off the festival tonight with Invaders from Mars (1953). The fate of humanity rests in the hands of a young boy after Martians begin taking over the minds of every adult around him. Show times are at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and the film is 1 hour 18 minutes long.

Other titles that will be shown throughout the summer include Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964), the original War of the Worlds (1953), Mars Attacks! (1996) and Plan Nine from Outer Space (1959).

Our auditorium screen accommodates both the narrow aspect of older films and the widescreen of newer ones. Your regular admission to Lowell includes admission to the film, but seating is limited to 120 per show and tickets are required.

Join us for these classic movies, then stick around for telescope viewing and other evening activities.