Veen Observatory

A few miles from Lowell, Michigan, the James C. Veen Observatory has welcomed the public to look through its telescopes for more than fifty years.

About J. C. Veen Observatory

The observatory is named after James C. Veen, co-founder and first president of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA), which has operated the site since it opened. GRAAA, founded in 1955, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and scientific organisation.

History

Construction was a five-year project carried out by GRAAA members in the 1960s, with support from a community foundation and the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The observatory became fully operational in 1970 and has run continuously since.

Telescopes & research

The site houses three main instruments: a Meade 16-inch LX-200 and a Celestron C-14, each in its own dome, plus a 17-inch Dobsonian in a roll-off structure. Between them they cover everything from beginner-friendly viewing to advanced astrophotography and robotic observation.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits about 3.6 miles west-southwest of Lowell, Michigan, United States, in a rural setting chosen for darker skies than the nearby Grand Rapids area.

Visiting J. C. Veen Observatory

GRAAA hosts public viewing nights every other Saturday evening from April through November; check the association's website for the current schedule before you go.

See your named star from here

With three telescopes and a regular public schedule, the Veen Observatory is a genuinely practical place to go looking for a star you have named. Explore our star-naming packages or search the catalogue to get its exact coordinates before your next visit.