led the observations of the NASA DART planetary defense mission, co-discovered several astronomical bodies such as Eris and Sedna, and are major participants in the search for the hypothetical Planet Nine. The university is a primary institution of the local Lowell Observatory. Alumni include 4 Truman Scholars, 11 Goldwater Scholars, and 3 Udall Scholars.
The NAU Lumberjacks compete in the NCAA Division I primarily as part of the Big Sky Conference, and have won several national championships in cross country running. At an elevation of 6,950 ft (2,120 m) above sea level, the school's athletic facilities are used by Olympic and professional athletes worldwide for prestige high altitude training.
== History ==
=== Creation and early history ===
Initially named the Northern Arizona Normal School, the institution opened on September 11, 1899, with 23 students, two faculty members – one, Almon Nicholas Taylor, who was also the school president – and "two copies of Webster's International Dictionary bound in …
