Peach Mountain Observatory

Near the small village of Dexter, Michigan, about 20 kilometres northwest of Ann Arbor, Peach Mountain Observatory has been a working site for the University of Michigan since the mid-1950s.

About Peach Mountain Observatory

Owned and operated by the University of Michigan, the observatory opened in 1955 and has served research, student instruction, and amateur observing ever since. It is one of several observatories the university has run over the years, alongside the historic Detroit Observatory in Ann Arbor and the McMath-Hulbert Observatory at Lake Angelus.

Telescopes & research

Peach Mountain originally housed an 8.54-metre radio dish, later joined by a larger 26-metre radio dish; the smaller dish is no longer in use. A newer building on site now holds the 24-inch (0.6 m) McMath-Hulbert Telescope, an optical instrument used for both research and teaching. The site is also used by the University Lowbrows, a University of Michigan amateur astronomy group, for public observing.

Location & getting there

Set in rural Washtenaw County northwest of Ann Arbor, the observatory benefits from darker skies than the city itself, making it a practical choice for both radio and optical work over its seven decades of operation.

Visiting Peach Mountain Observatory

The University Lowbrows hold public observing sessions at Peach Mountain; check the group's schedule before visiting, since sessions depend on weather and volunteer availability.

See your named star from here

Once you name a star through Star Register, its coordinates can guide any telescope, including the 24-inch McMath-Hulbert instrument here, straight to it on a clear Michigan night. See more named stars in our catalogue.