× Register for more free articles Stay logged in to skip the surveys Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}The 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) in Happy Jack has resumed science operations this week, after being closed since March 31 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lowell technical staff have been working on new operation plans to allow the teams to resume observing while ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Last week, engineering and instrumentation staff made sure the telescope and its instruments were in proper working order, ready for four nights of on-sky recertification, allowing astronomers to use all modes of the telescope. Over the course of three nights, the team observed Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4), imaging the comet as it fragments. Though Lowell Observatory is beginning to resume science operations, all public facilities remain closed and will likely not reopen for at least several weeks.

Source: Daily Sun May 21, 2020 17:26 UTC