Cranbrook Institute of Science unveils new observatory with special holiday hours

Cranbrook Institute of Science says it is celebrating the holiday season with special opportunities to view its new observatory and wigwam.

The institute says its observatory offers free-with-admission programming that examines the geological, historical and cultural aspects of winter in Michigan, seasonal programming in the planetarium and underwater exploration.

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Cranbrook says its new observatory offers access to the only research-grade telescopes regularly open to the public in the Midwest. Three new telescopes, architectural redesign and upgrades in the viewing space, a new dome and direct compatibility with the planetarium create an entirely new experience in celestial studies.

The observatory will be open during expanded hours for daytime tours from Dec. 26-29 from 1 to 4 p.m. Cranbrook says nighttime viewing will be available on Dec. 28 and 29 from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Cranbrook says there is an additional charge for a bat or planetarium program. To preview planetarium programs and learn more, click here.

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