Explore Through Exhibits

The rich history of the Observatory and the University of Michigan, as well as the outstanding collections of the Bentley Historical Library, make the development of exhibits a high priority for us.  At this time, we will post digital exhibits here, as well as making them available on screens at the Observatory.  Not too long from now, we will also be mounting physical exhibits at the Observatory, so stay tuned.

If you are interested in exhibits about U-M history, please also check out our exhibits page at the History of U-M site.

Digital Exhibits

Our online exhibits are just a click away.

  • Visit the Exhibit

    What Time Is It? How “Observatory Time” Changed the City of Detroit and Beyond

    March 11, 2022

    Trains crashing. People dying. Businesses struggling. The perils of keeping incorrect time in Detroit were significant, and the city desperately needed a solution. A visionary academic, a businessman, and new technology to plot the stars would converge at the Observatory, changing Detroit—and the campus—forever.

    Visit the Exhibit
  • Visit the Exhibit
    Astronomer Hazel Losh at telescope eyepiece

    Aiming for the Stars: Early Women Astronomers and the Detroit Observatory

    February 4, 2022

    This online exhibition showcases the development and impact of astronomy for women at the University of Michigan. Created in collaboration with the Bentley Historical Library and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), this exhibition gives a unique look into the lives of early women astronomy students at the Detroit Observatory and the impact of those students as they pursued their professional careers.

    Visit the Exhibit