Michigan State University Observatory

Can you visit Michigan State University Observatory? Yes

Free public observing nights on about 13 Saturdays Apr-Oct, no registration.

A public night at an observatory usually starts at dusk with a short talk, then a line at the eyepiece of the main telescope for the Moon, a planet or a bright cluster, with volunteers' smaller telescopes set up outside. Dress for the night air even in summer: domes are not heated, so the telescope stays at outside temperature. Many nights sell out or cancel for clouds, so check the observatory's site on the day.

What Michigan State University Observatory observes

The list does not describe the instruments at Michigan State University Observatory yet; the official site has them.

How dark the sky is at Michigan State University Observatory

Michigan State University Observatory has no Bortle rating in the list yet. The scale below shows what each class looks like.

Sky brightness and class come from the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness (Falchi et al. 2016, CC BY-NC 4.0), with natural skyglow added, at the coordinates below. Research telescopes are often sited on mountains above the haze, so the real sky can be darker than the map suggests.

Michigan State University Observatory among the observatories of Michigan

Green dots are observatories open to the public, blue dots research or private sites, squares dark sky places; select one for its page. See Michigan observatories for the full list.

The coordinates on this page point to zip 48910 (approximate): 42.701°N, 84.549°W.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open the larger map · Directions. Mountain observatory roads are often gated after dark; go only on a scheduled public night.

Dark sky places, observatories and clubs near Michigan State University Observatory

Nearest dark sky places

Other observatories open to the public within 150 km

• Fox Park Public ObservatoryPotterville, Michigan, 18 km (11 mi). Eaton County Parks observatory run with Capital Area Astronomy Association volunteers; public nights in season (see Night Sky Network calendar)
• James C. Veen ObservatoryLowell, Michigan, 72 km (45 mi). GRAAA public nights on 2nd and 4th Saturdays Apr-Oct when clear; $5 adults, $3 youth; Starwatch line 616-897-7065
• Peach Mountain ObservatoryDexter, Michigan, 78 km (49 mi). Free public open houses on select Saturday nights from dusk
• Angell Hall Student ObservatoryAnn Arbor, Michigan, 78 km (49 mi). Free public open houses on select Friday nights, about 9-11 pm
• Detroit ObservatoryAnn Arbor, Michigan, 81 km (51 mi). Saturday open houses (e.g. noon-5 pm) and special events; Lowbrow Astronomers meet here monthly
• Calvin University ObservatoryGrand Rapids, Michigan, 85 km (53 mi). Open to visitors on clear weeknights Mon-Fri during semesters (7:30-11 pm, later after DST); Wednesdays only in summer; call the dome to check

Astronomy clubs within 150 km

• Capital Area Astronomy AssociationEast Lansing, Michigan, 6 km (4 mi). Meets Monthly, Wednesday 7 pm
• General Motors Astronomy ClubMilford, Michigan, 74 km (46 mi)
• University Lowbrow AstronomersAnn Arbor, Michigan, 78 km (49 mi)
• Eastern Michigan Univ. Astronomy ClubYpsilanti, Michigan, 91 km (57 mi). Meets Eastern Michigan University campus, Ypsilanti
• Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical AssociationLowell, Michigan, 97 km (60 mi). Meets Monthly in winter, spring and autumn at Grand Rapids Public Museum

Star parties near Michigan State University Observatory

Planning a trip? Astrotourism in Michigan puts the dark sky places, observatories, clubs, star parties, planetariums and science centers of the state on one map, with the best night out worked out.

Michigan State University Observatory record

From the site's observatories dataset (observatories_q426). Distances are computed from the coordinates.