The Detroit Observatory was once a hub of astronomical discovery that put the University of Michigan on the map as a world-class research institution. A century later, it was an abandoned building with an uncertain future. From cornerstone to keystone, from the first director to the people who saved it from destruction, explore the life of a historic observatory 170 years in the making.

Watcher of the Sky is being developed by student docents at the Detroit Observatory. They are currently collaborating with a museum design firm on the final version of the exhibit, which will debut in fall 2025. We invite you to check out what they’ve done so far.

Now on display at the Detroit Observatory, 1398 Ann Street, Ann Arbor, 48109.

View the exhibit during the Observatory’s open hours (Thursdays and Fridays, 12-5 pm) and at evening events.