The DCT First Light Challenge

Visiting Lowell is a quality experience for our 75,000 yearly guests at our Visitor Center.
Likewise, we want using the DCT to be an enjoyable, quality experience for our staff, guests, and their students.
The Lodge is part of this experience.

About the Lodge

The Astronomer's Lodge will be located at the Happy Jack Ranger Station, about 1/2 mile from the DCT itself. The ranger station has power, access roads, electricity, and piped water. We thank the the U. S. Forest Service and the Coconino National Forest for their assistance and permission to build the lodge at this well-equipped site.

Why not build the lodge right at the telescope site? First of all, there's not enough room on the hilltop to fit it comfortably! We also don't have piped water at the telescope site - just a cistern. And most importantly, we don't want a large, heated building sitting right next to the telescope.

What will the lodge include? Basically, it's a small hotel. There will be six bedrooms, each with a private bath and equipped with a bed, office furniture, and dresser. Windows will have heavy black shades so observers can sleep during the day. At the other end of the building will be a kitchen, lounge, and common area. Wireless internet will be provided throughout, so astronomers can connect back to their offices and work during those inevitable cloudy nights.

The panorama below is taken looking south from the DCT site, It's not a bad place to be, as you can see! But it's too far from Flagstaff for astronomers and technical staff to be driving back at the end of an all-nighter. Thus the need for the Lodge.

Lowell is grateful to architect (and Friend of Lowell) Jim Roberts, who has been working with us on the design of the building. Jim's vision will help us create an inviting place for our staff and guests: not the Ritz, but also not a dreary pillbox. It will be environmentally smart, and will offer all the amenities that astronomers, telescope operators, and technical staff will need to live at the site for several days to a few weeks at a time.