Michigan State University Observatory

Michigan State University Observatory is an astronomical facility located on the university campus in Lansing that houses a Cassegrain telescope within a domed structure. The facility has supported celestial observation and research activities since 1970.

The original observatory was built in 1881 by Rolla Carpenter and featured a refracting telescope with a 5.5-inch aperture made by Alvan Clark & Sons. The current facility with its Cassegrain telescope replaced this early structure during later development.

Public observing nights draw visitors who share an interest in astronomy and gain insight into celestial objects through guided observation. These gatherings connect people across the campus and local community who wonder about the night sky.

The observatory is located on the Michigan State University campus in Lansing and opens on selected nights during warmer months for public viewing. Visitors should check ahead to find out which nights observing sessions and educational programs are scheduled.

The foundations of the original 1881 observatory lay hidden beneath campus grounds for decades until they were rediscovered during recent construction work. These buried remains show how well the old structure was preserved even though it had been out of sight for so long.