Public Viewing
NOTE: ALL remaining NMC Observatory Public Viewing nights and other events have been canceled for the remainder of 2020.
Students from the NMC Astronomy Club and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) host public viewing nights from 9 to 11 p.m. at Rogers Observatory.
The observatory is at 1753 Birmley Road, about five miles south of NMC's main campus between Garfield and Keystone roads, one-half mile south of Hammond Road.
The admission fee is $2 per person, or $5 per family.
|
Day |
Date |
Comments |
|---|---|---|
|
Friday |
Jan. 3* |
Orion Nebula, Moon, Venus |
|
Friday |
Feb. 7* |
Orion Nebula, Moon, Venus |
|
Friday |
March 6* |
Moon, Orion Nebula, Venus |
|
Friday |
April 3* |
Venus, Orion Nebula, Moon (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
May 1* |
Venus, Moon (CANCELED) |
|
Saturday |
May 2 |
Mercury early, Venus, Moon late (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
June 5* |
Mercury early, Moon late (CANCELED) |
|
Saturday |
June 20 |
Jupiter very late (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
July 3* |
Moon, Jupiter very late (CANCELED) |
|
Saturday |
July 18 |
Jupiter late, Saturn very late (CANCELED) |
|
Saturday |
Aug. 1 |
Moon, Jupiter, Saturn (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
Aug. 7* |
Jupiter, Saturn (CANCELED) |
|
Saturday |
Aug. 29 |
Jupiter, Saturn, Moon (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
Sept. 4* |
Jupiter, Saturn, Moon, Mars (CANCELED) |
|
Saturday |
Sept. 26 |
International Observe the Moon Night, Jupiter, Saturn (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
Oct. 2* |
Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Moon (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
Nov. 6* |
Mars, Orion Nebula & Moon late (CANCELED) |
|
Friday |
Dec. 4* |
Mars, Orion Nebula, Moon late (CANCELED) |
* These dates, the 9–11 p.m. viewing session is preceded by a meeting and program by the GTAS, at 8 p.m. All are welcome.
See gtastro.org for more outreach events around the area.
- Orion Nebula: A stellar nursery, 1,800 light years away, visible on winter evenings
- Summer Milky Way: Many Deep Sky Objects are visible in our galaxy, best seen on August and September evenings
In Case of Inclement Weather
If it is cloudy, a tour and slide show will be presented. Winter viewing may be canceled, if a heavy snow, during the day, makes the hill impassable.
Web Sites of Interest
For more information on events at the Rogers Observatory, call (231) 995-2300.
For more information on events sponsored by GTAS, go to gtastro.org.
Contact us »
Custom Directions
For custom driving directions to the Rogers Observatory from Google, enter your street address, city and state below. (The directions will appear in a new browser window.)
"It's a wonderful thing when the community comes out and uses the facility they helped to build."
JERRY DOBEK
NMC ASTRONOMY INSTRUCTOR