All public events hosted by the Observatory — astronomical, historical, and cultural — are free but at this time require advance reservation. The reasons for this are our desire to ensure a continuing safe environment as we begin to emerge, we hope, from the pandemic; our wish to foster a more intimate, rich experience for visitors; and our need to gauge attendance to our current level of staffing and operations.

Openings are limited and will depend on the nature of the event, so please book your visit well in advance. The Observatory offers talks, presentations, observing — both nighttime and daytime — and tours. Check the calendar below for scheduled events, or click on the buttons below the calendar to request a visit.

And please check here for things to take into account when visiting: safety protocols, do’s and don’ts, what to wear, what you can expect, including our COVID policy.  At this time, given tight spaces in the building and the CDC rating of Washtenaw County as MEDIUM community spread, masks continue to be required at the Observatory.

Explore the heavens during one of our astronomy sessions. Sessions involve presentations on a range of fascinating astronomical phenomena, instruction on the telescopes, and, when weather permits, observing with our beautiful historic Fitz telescope as well as modern supplemental telescopes. We offer both nighttime observing and daytime observing of the Sun (with all necessary safety precautions).  Please note: astronomy events at the Observatory take place even if the weather does not permit observing.  We strive to always have interesting things for you to do.

In the near future, we will be offering three tours — and more are being developed!

The Detroit Observatory

This tour covers both the original building and the addition.  Learn about the telescopes, see why the observatory was constructed the way it was, hear about the astronomers who walked its floors in the 19th century — and the discoveries they made — and understand what we hoped to gain by construction of the addition.

The Original 40 Acres

Join us for a 1.5-hour walking tour covering highlights of the first 70 years of U-M history. This tour will explore questions such as: What do the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Badawademi have to do with the founding of the University? How did the Diag change from pasture to the tree-covered expanse it is today? Before the President’s House was the President’s House, what was it? Why is a plaque commemorating the admission of women located in Angell Hall?

Engineering Breakthroughs

This one-hour tour of North Campus examines breakthrough moments in U-M science and engineering. This tour will explore questions such as: What is U-M’s connection to the creation of information theory, which made modern information technology possible? What was the blue glow emanating from a pool in the Phoenix Memorial Laboratory and why was it there? Why is the name DeVolson Wood important in the history of the University?