We at the University of Michigan - Dearborn Observatory believe that everyone should have a basic understanding of astronomy in order to appreciate the beauty and complexity of our Universe.
Since ancient times, mankind has looked to the heavens and told stories to explain the wonders of the night sky. Astronomy tells the scientific story of the Universe, the story that seeks to explain all celestial phenomena, from the phases of the Moon and the orbits of the planets, to the birth and death of stars and the beginning and end of the Universe.
Astronomy teaches us both that we are seemingly insignificant in the vastness of space, and that with the application of human intellect we can answer some of the most fundamental questions of science - how the Universe was born, how the elements that make the Earth came to be, and whether we are alone in the Universe.
The Observatory's goals include:
- Providing educational and research opportunities in astronomy to students at University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford College
- Promoting science literacy through K-12 Outreach Programs
- Advancing the general knowledge of astronomy through public outreach events