165 years ago the Detroit Observatory received its historic refractor telescope. Handmade by Henry Fitz in New York, it was the third largest refractor telescope in the world. Its lens captured the light of countless stars and asteroids, helping astronomers explore a universe that we were only beginning to understand.

Join the Detroit Observatory for a closer look at the origins of its historic refractor and the person who made it possible. Program begins at 8PM and includes unique tours of the observatory, along with telescope observing through the historic refractor. Telescope observing is weather dependent.