DISCOVERY CELEBRATES A NEW ERA FOR ASTRONOMY WITH "SCANNING THE SKIES: THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL TELESCOPE"
-One-Hour Discovery Channel Special Airs on Sunday, September 9 at 7 PM ET/PT-
-Discovery Education to Bring Images and Research from the Discovery Channel Telescope to Classrooms around the World-
(NEW YORK) - Discovery Channel introduces viewers of all ages to America's latest scientific wonder with the world premiere of "SCANNING THE SKIES: THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL TELESCOPE." This one-hour special documents the construction of the cutting-edge Discovery Channel Telescope, based in the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, from conception to first light. "SCANNING THE SKIES: THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL TELESCOPE" premieres on Discovery on Sunday, September 9 at 7 PM ET/PT.
"SCANNING THE SKIES: THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL TELESCOPE" will focus on the planning and construction of this state-of-the-art telescope. The documentary will feature interviews with Dr. Jeff Hall, Director of Lowell Observatory and other Lowell astronomers about their mission to bring the latest discoveries from our solar system into every living room, classroom and social networking site. Now that the telescope is finally online after a decade of construction, visitors to Discovery's news website, Discovery News, will be able to join astronomers for live coverage of night-sky events and get the latest, amazing discoveries from the Discovery Channel Telescope. The telescope will further amaze and fascinate with each new insight by uncovering the mysteries of what's beyond Neptune in our solar system, the Milky Way, small galaxies and other celestial objects.
In addition to the premiere of this one-hour special, Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, will bring videos, images and research from the Discovery Channel Telescope to classrooms around the globe. Through its partnerships with school districts worldwide, Discovery Education will provide teachers with lesson plans and resources to ignite students' curiosity and help them learn about astronomy and science. This initiative will take educators and students beyond the classroom with webinars, virtual field trips and interactions with experts in this field.
The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) is the fifth-largest telescope in the continental United States and one of the most technically-sophisticated ground-based telescopes of its size. Measuring at 78 feet tall and weighing more than six tons, the telescope resides at the Lowell Observatory in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona at an elevation of 7,760 feet. The telescope aims to study a range of research topics for partnered universities including Boston University, the University of Maryland and the University of Toledo. With its groundbreaking ease and speed to quickly navigate different part of our solar system, the telescope represents a new dawn for science education and new ways to learn about our universe.
"SCANNING THE SKIES: THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL TELESCOPE" was produced for Discovery Channel by Discovery Studios and Lone Wolf Documentary Group. For Discovery Channel, executive producer is Brooke Runnette.
For updates on the documentary, go to www.discovery.com, like us at Facebook.com/Discovery and follow us on Twitter @Discovery and @DiscoveryEd.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.1 million U.S. homes, can be seen in over 180 countries, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education transforms classrooms, empowers teachers and captivates students by providing high quality, dynamic, digital content for grades K-12 and community colleges. Powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital media, professional development, assessment tools and a passionate educator network to support districts in accelerating student achievement. Discovery Education services like Discovery Education streaming, Discovery Education Techbooks and Discovery Education Higher Ed, are in more than half of all US schools and 35 countries around the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 149 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is a private, non-profit research institution founded in 1894 by Percival Lowell. The Observatory has been the site of many important findings including the discovery of the large recessional velocities (redshift) of galaxies by Vesto Slipher in 1912-1914 (a result that led ultimately to the realization the universe is expanding), and the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Today, Lowell's 20 astronomers use ground-based telescopes around the world, telescopes in space, and NASA planetary spacecraft to conduct research in diverse areas of astronomy and planetary science. The Observatory welcomes about 80,000 visitors each year to its Mars Hill campus in Flagstaff, Arizona for a variety of tours, telescope viewing, and special programs. Lowell Observatory currently has four research telescopes at its Anderson Mesa dark-sky site east of Flagstaff, and recently completed a four-meter class research telescope, the Discovery Channel Telescope. For more information, please visit www.lowell.edu.
About the Discovery Channel Telescope
The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) - being built by Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona - will be among the most technically sophisticated ground-based telescopes of its size. The Telescope, the fifth largest telescope in the continental United States, is completed and being commissioned at a dark-sky site on the Coconino National Forest approximately 45 miles SSE of Flagstaff. The project is being undertaken in partnership with Discovery Communications. Construction and commissioning of the telescope and associated infrastructure will cost approximately $53 million. The telescope will significantly augment Lowell Observatory's observational capability and enable pioneering studies in a number of important research areas. First light, or first scientific use of the telescope, took place in May 2012. Institutional DCT partners include Boston University (in perpetuity), the University of Maryland, and the University of Toledo. For more information, please visit www.lowell.edu/dct.php.