Summer is the perfect time for adventures and discovery! In Oakland County, the night sky presents a constant source of wonder and awe. There are many fun ways to delve a little deeper into the world of astronomy because the county is well equipped with observatories, planetariums, and astronomy clubs.
Find the best places in and around Oakland County to view the stars with our interactive star gazing map and grab a telescope to observe the worlds above us. Check out the cavernous craters of the Moon, the massive mountains nestled on Mars, or the rings on Saturn radiating light into the night sky. The possibilities for discovery are endless.
Visible Astronomical Events in Oakland County
This summer, there will be a handful of astronomical events that will be visible in Oakland County.
July 27th – July 30th – Mars at Its Brightest
Mars will be especially close to the Earth in 2018. This is the biggest and brightest Mars will be since 2003, and it won’t be this close to us again until 2035. Its brightest peak will be between July 27th and July 30th.
SKYCHART BY A. FAZEKAS
August 12th – 13th – Perseid Meteor Shower
The annual meteor shower regularly produces 60 shooting stars an hour at its peak. It will be visible in Oakland County.
PHOTOGRAPH BY BABAK TAFRESHI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE
Observatories
Auburn Hills – McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society
Bloomfield Hills – Cranbrook Institute of Science
Leonard – Addison Oaks County Park Observing Site
Ray – Stargate: Warren Astronomical Society
Rochester – Rochester College
Planetariums
Bloomfield Hills – Acheson: Cranbrook Institute of Science
Rochester – Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve
Southfield –Friends of Vollbrecht
Astronomy Clubs
Auburn Hills – McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society
Brighton – Ford Amateur Astronomy Club
Dryden – Seven Ponds Astronomy Club
Northville – Ford Amateur Astronomy Club
Rochester – Oakland Astronomy Club
Events
Cranbrook Institute of Science: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays – Michigan Sky Tonight
Addison Oaks County Park: Sunday, August 11th – Cosmic Commotion
Do you know of any other astronomy activities in the Oakland County area? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter, contact us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leave a comment below.
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