If you find yourself looking up at the night sky eager for a glimpse of the rings around Saturn, or you just like to imagine an evening stargazing, you’re in luck! The Hemlock Crossing Public Observatory opened in October 2022, and it’s the first public observatory in West Michigan. The Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association raised $100,000 to construct the facility in an open, natural area at Hemlock Crossing Park. The observatory houses a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, which is powerful enough to see different bands of clouds on the surface of Jupiter, color changes on Mars brought on by dust storms and polar caps melting, and more amazing phenomena in the heavens.
A public viewing is scheduled for every Friday evening, weather and clear sky permitting. The Moon and planets are visible, as well as deep sky objects like galaxies, star clusters, and planetary nebulae.
Be sure to check out the observatory’s calendar for viewing dates and details, as well as any weather cancellations.
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Travel time from downtown Grand Haven
17:00
