Have you ever wanted a chance to view stars in the night sky? The MSU Observatory provides a great opportunity for stargazing.

After going through a closure in previous years and being reconstructed, the current MSU Observatory opened in 1986. In 2004, a grant from the National Science Foundation PREST program and financial support from the Department of Physics and Astronomy funded the renovation of the observatory. The telescope in the observatory was updated in 2005.

The MSU Observatory is known for its open house nights, where members of the public can stargaze for a couple of hours. Between 1986 and 2008, 32,000 members of the general public attended an observatory open house night.

Two major stargazing nights at the MSU Observatory included a glimpse of Comet Halley in the 1980s and the approach of Mars in 2003.

Open house nights are usually held April through November. Specific dates and times can be found on the MSU Observatory’s website.

The MSU Observatory offers a spectacular view of stars in the night sky that is accessible to the entire MSU community.

Thank you, MSU Observatory!