FLAGSTAFF (AZFamily) — Lowell Observatory is a pillar for astronomy research in Arizona and across the globe.

However, the observatory is now facing financial difficulties and is reducing its research staff by about 80 percent.

For longer than Arizona has been a state, Lowell Observatory has been conducting astronomy research in Flagstaff.

Observatory historian Kevin Schindler said since the passing of Percival Lowell, his endowment has been funding the majority of their research.

“Our astronomers today have taken that heritage and now search for and study and characterize planets or stars,” Schindler said.

Now that money is needed elsewhere and they’re cutting staff, including going from 14 paid researchers to just 2.

“We need to find a more sustainable model,” Schindler said. “A

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