Lowell Discovery Telescope
The Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT), formerly the Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT), is a 4.3 m (170 in) aperture telescope owned and operated by Lowell Observatory. The LDT was built at a dark sky site in the Coconino National Forest near Happy Jack, Arizona. Happy Jack is located at an elevation of 2,360 m (7,740 ft) and is approximately 65 km (40 mi) south-south-east of Flagstaff. The project was initially a partnership between Discovery Communications and Lowell Observatory. The research partnerships have been extended to include Boston University, The University of Maryland, The University of Toledo, and Northern Arizona University. The telescope cost $53 million. It significantly augments Lowell Observatory's observational capability and enables pioneering studies in a number of important research areas.
The dome of Discovery Channel Telescope | |
| Alternative names | DCT |
|---|---|
| Named after | Discovery Channel |
| Part of | Lowell Observatory |
| Location(s) | Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34°44′40″N 111°25′19″W |
| Organization | Lowell Observatory |
| Observatory code | G37 |
| Altitude | 2,360 m (7,740 ft) |
| Built | 2006–2012 |
| First light | April 2012 |
| Telescope style | Ritchey–Chrétien telescope |
| Diameter | 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) |
| Secondary diameter | 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) |
| Angular resolution | 0.03 arcsecond |
| Mounting | altazimuth mount |
| Enclosure | spherical dome |
| Website | lowell |
Location of Lowell Discovery Telescope | |
| Related media on Commons | |
With its 4-meter class primary mirror, the Lowell Discovery Telescope is the fifth largest telescope in the continental United States (as of 2019).
Final construction of the telescope was completed by February 2012 and first light images were taken in April 2012.