Astronomy on Tap Flagstaff | I Heart Pluto Festival 2026: Mother Road to the Stars

Come celebrate the kickoff of the I Heart Pluto Festival 2026 with Lowell Observatory and Mother Road Brewing Co. at a special edition of Astronomy on Tap on February 12th at 6pm! This year we celebrate 96 years since Pluto’s discovery by Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory! Mother Road will unveil their special I Heart Pluto-themed beer for the six festival collaboration! Afterward, there will be presentations to celebrate the discovery of Pluto and Route 66 plus its Space Heritage.

Stoker Stoker who is a Senior Presentation Specialist at Lowell Observatory will present “Cultural Icons: Pluto, Route 66, and How They Connect Us”. Stoker will talk about how Route 66 famously stretches from Chicago to LA, there’s a place a little ways off the map that also has a huge connection to Route 66: Pluto, the icy body at the edge of our solar system. Take a trip through time and space to discover how this historic stretch of highway parallels a hotly-debated world four billion miles away, and why Route 66 and Pluto will have an impact on us for many years to come.

There will be trivia after the talks and of course, plenty of Mother Road brews to enjoy on tap! We’ll see you there! Come early, Seats fill up fast!