Reach for the stars. At the Detroit Observatory, they’re closer than you think.

by Chuck Wisman

Consider this a Stockbridge Community News knowledge question of the month: Where is the Detroit Observatory located?

If your first response is Detroit, sorry, think again! The Detroit Observatory is located in Ann Arbor, Mich., on the grounds of the University of Michigan. Formally known as the Judy & Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory, U-M’s second oldest building contains several telescopes, displays, and more. It is open to the public on Fridays for walk-in visits from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Knowledgeable docents are available to guide your visit and answer all your questions. Best of all, it’s absolutely free to the public!

The Detroit Observatory is an oft-overlooked heritage site providing an extraordinary learning experience via its telescopes, construction, age, and history. The Observatory was built in 1854 at the behest of the first president of the University, Henry Philip Tappan. In 1857, the University subsequently installed the third largest refracting telescope in the world, the Fitz refractor, in the Observatory. That very same telescope with a few modifications is still in use today!

According to the Observatory website, “The Fitz refractor (telescope) sits atop a limestone pier weighing four tons, which rests on a 60-foot brick masonry pillar that extends 15 feet below grade. In its original configuration, the Fitz refractor had a pine wood tube and equatorial mount that allowed it to track celestial movements. As astrophotography developed in the late 1800s, the wood tube was replaced with the more rigid steel tube that you can see today. A new equatorial mount and clock drive were also installed at that time. Interestingly, Henry Fitz’s 1857 objective lens was not reconfigured then or since. Consequently, it is the only Fitz lens in its original condition, making it of great historical interest.”

The dome of the Observatory is constructed of wood and originally sat on cannon balls in order to rotate. The cannon ball mechanism became unworkable, and was replaced by a trolley system operated with pulleys and ropes. A child can literally turn the entire dome of the Observatory by simply pulling a rope. Since the Observatory dome and telescope were built and installed in the mid-1800s, they operate without electricity or hydraulics. It’s entirely mechanical.

More from the website: “The Observatory also contains a Meridian Circle Telescope (MCT). Think of today’s technologically advanced means for determining time and location, such as cesium clocks and the GPS satellite network. The MCT was the 1800s equivalent.” The MCT and all its complex gadgetry are accessible via a stairway or an elevator.”

So, if you’re looking for a family-friendly activity that will expand your horizons and knowledge of the heavens, plan a visit to the Detroit Observatory. It’s essentially a living museum. In addition to the Friday walk-in hours, they have free daytime tours and nighttime viewing events where you may see Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons and even a look at the sun through protective lenses. Although free, many of these non-walk-in events require you to register first.

The Detroit Observatory’s website is at https://detroitobservatory.umich.edu. This site contains a wealth of information on the history of the Observatory, photos, a calendar of events open to the public, and other information.

The address is 1398 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor, located at the corner of Ann and Observatory streets.

Accessibility note: Please be aware the dome of the Observatory and its Fitz telescope are only accessible via a stairway. The elevator does not extend to the dome. Parking is available approximately a block or two east of the Observatory in a University Hospital public parking ramp.

Visit the Detroit Observatory—in Ann Arbor—for a family-friendly activity that just might expand your horizons. Photo credit: Pentawing at Wikimedia Commons