Navigating Nature Centers in Oakland County

If you’d like to learn about the wilds surrounding your everyday life, you’ll love our map of nature centers in Oakland County. This interactive map, created by Oakland County’s award-winning GIS team, will lead you on a journey across the county, from center to center, helping you plan a trip to any one of these great locations to learn about the natural world. Sunshine or rain, summer or winter, these nature centers are there for you to help grow your pool of knowledge!

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Heritage Park in Farmington Hills. Photo credit: Jonathan Schechter

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Astronomy Adventures in Oakland County

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.

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Shoot for the stars at the Cranbrook Institute of Science

It’s an airy space with a number of chairs placed in a circle.

As the Cranbrook Acheson Planetarium darkens and the large dome-like ceiling gives way to the night sky, guests experience a unique view of the universe. With a 360 degree experience and a 5.1 surround sound system, visitors are visually launched into space for a very real and up close look.

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Get an even closer look at the Cranbrook Observatory, where a large dome facility houses three research-grade telescopes, giving you clear views of the brightest stars and planets.

The Cranbrook Institute of Science, located in Bloomfield Hills, gives you a front row seat and the closest view, without venturing into space yourself.

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