Mr. Spock, a half-human, half-Vulcan, was known for being logical and stoic. As his star rose in Hollywood, Leonard Nimoy was just as unemotional, his son, Adam Nimoy, reports in his 2024 book, "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy." But thanks to the tools of addiction recovery, they eventually repaired their complicated relationship.
Nimoy will appear at Lowell Observatory’s I Heart Pluto Festival in Flagstaff, which runs Feb. 13 to 18, to talk about the book and introduce a screening of his 2016 documentary, "For the Love of Spock."
He’ll also be one of three keynote speakers at the “Night of Discovery” discussion at Orpheum Theater, joining New Horizons Mission to Pluto Principal Investigator Dr. Alan Stern and comet-hunting legend David Levy. Astronomy magazine Editor-in-Chief David Eicher will moderate.
In a Zoom interview, Nimoy, though not an actor himself (a 2015 cameo on "The Big Bang Theory" notwithstanding), revealed some showmanship when asked what to expect from his appearance.
“They can expect wall-to-wall entertainment,” he says, enthusiastically promising to talk about his book; "Star Trek" and why Mr. Spock continues to resonate with fans; the discovery of dwarf planet Pluto 95 years ago; his interest in astronomy and dark matter, dark energy and black holes; and the realm of fantasy/science fiction and how it relates to current hard science and astronomy.
“Much of the technology of space exploration and the people who are at NASA … many of these scientists have been inspired by 'Star Trek,'" he notes.
Pluto: Arizona’s homegrown ‘planet’
The I Heart Pluto Festival began in 2020, 90 years after Pluto’s discovery at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. It’s always held over Presidents' Day weekend, close to the discovery date.“Flagstaff, and to a greater extent, Arizona, is the home of Pluto,” says Kevin Schindler, Lowell Observatory historian and public information officer. “It really is sort of our baby.”
If you haven’t been on the tour at Lowell Observatory to learn about the discovery, it’s like something out of a movie. Percival Lowell — who, like Leonard Nimoy, was from Boston — founded the observatory and advanced the theory of a ninth planet.
But 13 years after Lowell’s death, Clyde Tombaugh, a farm boy from Kansas who built telescopes out of scrap parts, was hired in 1929 to painstakingly study pictures of a slice of the cosmos looking for what Lowell called “Planet X.”
At about 4 p.m. on Feb. 18, 1930, Tombaugh had a “eureka” moment. “He thought, ‘Holy cow, that’s probably a planet based on how this little dot changed position over a few days’ time,’” Schindler relates.
Tombaugh went on to earn a master’s degree in astronomy, and Lowell Observatory eventually created maps of the Moon for the space program. It was designated a historic landmark in 1965 by the National Park Service.
Although Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, Arizona State Rep. Justin Wilmeth led a bipartisan effort to name it the official state planet in 2024.
“That’s not a scientific proclamation; it’s a recognition of Arizona’s heritage,” Schindler states.
Today, the observatory is one of Flagstaff’s top tourist attractions, with more than 100,000 visitors annually. In November 2024, it opened a 40,000-square-foot Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center, which includes a Dark Sky Planetarium, a theater with a 160-degree, two-story LED screen and more.
The I Heart Pluto Festival will feature entertainment, food trucks and activities for all ages, including behind-the-scenes tours.
It kicks off on Thursday with a “Pluto Beer Dedication"; Mother Road Brewing Company makes a Pluto-themed beer every year and the 2025 edition is called “Boldly Go,” tying in with "Star Trek" and the theme of discovery. There’s also a pub crawl on Valentine’s Day.
Schindler says Monday, Presidents' Day, is particularly ideal for families because it’s the official Pluto birthday bash. There will be science demonstrations on making comets out of dry ice and presentations by several local organizations.
Adam Nimoy's book "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy," examines their relationship, his father's influence on him and how 12-step programs helped them become close.
Chicago Review Press
Adam Nimoy, AA and Mr. Spock
One of the festival’s big draws this year is expected to be Nimoy’s appearances. In addition to being one of the Saturday evening keynote speakers, he’ll also talk about the new book and introduce a screening of his documentary on Sunday.The book examines Nimoy’s relationship with his dad, whom he admired but couldn’t connect with until later in their lives. A big factor in that was his dad’s alcohol abuse and his own substance abuse.
“I was a pot addict for 30 years, and it wasn’t until we both went into recovery, 12-step recovery in particular, that we found the tools we needed to reconcile,” Nimoy says.
He lays bare in his book his challenges with not only his dad, but his now ex-wife and their two now-adult children — but with brutal honesty, mostly while pointing the finger at himself. He reveals how he’s used the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous to foster better relationships with them and others.
“It’s possible to mend complicated relationships,” Nimoy states.
Nimoy, who has been sober since 2004, adds, “I mean, the secret for me has been when people say stuff or do stuff that is inflammatory to me, I use the tools of recovery to give myself a chance to calm down before I react.”
He says his favorite saying is “Don’t just do something — sit there.”
Despite his issues with his father, Nimoy is proud of the influence he had on his and other people’s lives, which comes through in the book.
He says, “I mean, it’s just nutty how it’s still inspiring people and how it’s really pervaded not only the culture, but science and technology. ... Scientists who are experts in these fields tell me how inspired they were by my dad and that particular character.”
Nimoy adds, “It’s 60 years later, and Spock is still resonating with people.”
The I Heart Pluto Festival runs Feb. 13 to 17 at Lowell Observatory, Orpheum Theater and other venues in Flagstaff. General admission tickets for the observatory are $10 to $35; separate tickets are required for Night of Discovery at Orpheum Theater and Adam Nimoy events. Visit the festival website for information and tickets.
