Michigan’s science centers, universities, and community museums offer plenty of ways to explore the night sky without needing a telescope. Local planetariums host shows, lectures, and school programs that make astronomy approachable for visitors of all ages.
There are 22 Planetariums in Michigan, ranging from Abrams Planetarium to Wayne State University Planetarium. For each entry, City,Address,Type are listed to help you compare locations quickly — you’ll find below.
How can I check show times and ticket prices for a specific planetarium?
Most planetariums post show schedules and admission details on their websites or social media; university-run sites sometimes require checking academic calendars. If you can’t find current info online, call the venue listed under the City,Address,Type entry — staff can confirm times, special events, and group rates.
Are these planetariums appropriate for school field trips and group visits?
Yes — many venues offer school programs, curriculum-linked presentations, and group booking options; look for facilities labeled as education or university types in the City,Address,Type list. Contact the site ahead of time to ask about capacity, age recommendations, and any hands-on or classroom materials they provide.
Planetariums in Michigan
| Name | City | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abrams Planetarium | East Lansing | 755 Science Rd, on the MSU campus | University |
| U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium | Ann Arbor | 1105 N University Ave, on the U-M campus | University museum |
| Longway Planetarium | Flint | 1310 E Kearsley St | Museum |
| Acheson Planetarium | Bloomfield Hills | 39221 Woodward Ave, at the Cranbrook Institute of Science | Science museum |
| Delta College Planetarium | Bay City | 100 Center Ave | University |
| Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium | Grand Rapids | 272 Pearl St NW, at the Grand Rapids Public Museum | Museum |
| Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium | Kalamazoo | 230 N Rose St | Museum |
| Wayne State University Planetarium | Detroit | 4841 Cass Ave, in the Old Main building | University |
| Hurst Planetarium | Jackson | 2111 Emmons Rd, at the Ella Sharp Museum | Museum |
| Shiras Planetarium | Marquette | 1203 W Fair Ave, at Marquette Senior High School | Public school district |
| Carr-Fles Planetarium | Muskegon | 221 S Quarterline Rd, on the MCC campus | University |
| EMU Planetarium | Ypsilanti | 402 Mark Jefferson Science Complex | University |
| Robinson Planetarium | Adrian | 110 S Madison St, on the Adrian College campus | University |
| Halenz Memorial Planetarium | Berrien Springs | 8975 US-31, at Andrews University | University |
| De Vries Planetarium | Grand Rapids | 1734 Knollcrest Cir SE, at Calvin University | University |
| Hope College Planetarium | Holland | 257 Columbia Ave, in the Schaap Science Center | University |
| Challenger Learning Center at SC4 | Port Huron | 400 Erie St, on the SC4 campus | University learning center |
| Goodrich Planetarium | Jenison | 2140 Bauer Rd, at Jenison High School | Public school district |
| Hemlock Planetarium | Hemlock | 733 N Hemlock Rd, at Hemlock High School | Public school district |
| Portage Planetarium | Portage | 8107 S Westnedge Ave, at Portage Northern Middle School | Public school district |
| BCOEC Planetarium | Dowling | 10160 S M-37 Hwy | Outdoor education center |
| Concord Planetarium | Concord | 405 S Main St, at Concord High School | Public school district |
Images and Descriptions
Abrams Planetarium
At MSU, this planetarium features a 50-foot dome and Digistar 7 system. It offers public shows on weekends, family events, and an “observable-sky” feature showing what’s visible in the East Lansing sky tonight, making it a local favorite.
U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium
Inside the University of Michigan’s natural history museum, this modern digital dome presents immersive shows about space and natural science. It’s a perfect add-on to a museum visit, offering programs for various ages that bring the cosmos to life.
Longway Planetarium
As Michigan’s largest planetarium, Longway boasts a 60-foot dome and a state-of-the-art Digistar 7 system for ultra-high-resolution shows. It offers public astronomy programs, educational films, and even classic rock laser light shows for a diverse audience.
Acheson Planetarium
Located within the Cranbrook Institute of Science, the Acheson Planetarium uses advanced projection to explore astronomy and earth science. Public shows are offered daily, complementing the museum’s exhibits with journeys through the cosmos, from our solar system to distant galaxies.
Delta College Planetarium
Situated in downtown Bay City, this planetarium features a 50-foot dome with a 360-degree screen and a rooftop observatory. It offers public shows, educational programs, and stunning views of the Saginaw River, blending astronomy with a beautiful waterfront location.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
Housed in the Grand Rapids Public Museum, this planetarium is named for astronaut Roger B. Chaffee. It features a high-resolution digital system in its large dome, offering spectacular public shows, star talks, and unique events like concerts under the stars.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium
This newly upgraded planetarium inside the Kalamazoo Valley Museum offers free shows to the public. With a new NanoSeam dome and Digistar 7 system, it provides stunningly realistic visuals of the universe, making space exploration accessible and breathtaking for everyone.
Wayne State University Planetarium
This free planetarium at Wayne State hosts public shows on select Friday nights. It features a 30-foot dome and a classic Spitz projector supplemented with digital capabilities, offering an intimate and educational look at the night sky over Detroit.
Hurst Planetarium
Located inside the Ella Sharp Museum, the Hurst Planetarium offers a cozy, intimate viewing experience. It presents live star talks and full-dome films that are perfect for families, exploring topics from constellations to the latest NASA missions in an engaging format.
Shiras Planetarium
Serving the Upper Peninsula, this planetarium is owned by Marquette Area Public Schools but offers regular public programming. It features a 30-foot dome and provides a mix of live “sky tonight” shows and pre-recorded films for all ages.
Carr-Fles Planetarium
Located at Muskegon Community College, this planetarium hosts free public shows on select evenings. It features both a classic Spitz star projector and a full-dome video system, offering a unique blend of traditional star talks and modern immersive films for all.
EMU Planetarium
Located in Eastern Michigan University’s science complex, this planetarium offers free public shows on select weekends during the academic year. It’s an excellent community resource, presenting informative programs about current astronomical events, constellations, and deep-sky objects.
Robinson Planetarium
Located on the Adrian College campus, the Robinson Planetarium features a 30-foot dome and hosts free public shows during the academic year. It’s a wonderful community outreach tool, presenting live, interactive tours of the cosmos led by college faculty.
Halenz Memorial Planetarium
At Andrews University, this planetarium offers free public shows on the first Friday of most months. Its programs often focus on a “creator-friendly” perspective of the cosmos, providing educational and inspirational journeys through the stars in its intimate dome setting.
De Vries Planetarium
Part of Calvin University’s science building, this planetarium hosts public shows on select Saturdays. It features a digital projection system that can simulate the night sky from anywhere, offering guided tours of stars, planets, and other celestial phenomena to the public.
Hope College Planetarium
Found within the Schaap Science Center at Hope College, this planetarium offers free public shows during the academic year. It’s an excellent local resource for experiencing the wonders of the night sky through engaging presentations by the physics department.
Challenger Learning Center at SC4
At St. Clair County Community College, this center’s dome theater hosts public missions and planetarium shows. It combines immersive space simulations with educational astronomy content, creating a unique, interactive experience that is perfect for families and aspiring astronauts.
Goodrich Planetarium
Operated by Jenison Public Schools, this planetarium offers free shows to the public on select evenings. A community favorite, it provides engaging live tours of the constellations and planets, making complex astronomical concepts accessible and fun for all ages.
Hemlock Planetarium
This community resource at Hemlock High School offers public shows in its digital dome theater. It’s a local gem for the Great Lakes Bay Region, providing engaging astronomy education for families and students outside of regular school hours.
Portage Planetarium
This school district planetarium serves the community with free public shows on a regular schedule. It’s a fantastic educational asset for the Portage area, offering families a chance to explore the universe together through guided tours of the night sky.
BCOEC Planetarium
Part of the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center, this planetarium offers public programs during special community events. It provides an engaging indoor stargazing experience that complements the center’s focus on nature and science education for the local community and visitors.
Concord Planetarium
This small-town planetarium at Concord High School is a hidden gem that hosts occasional public shows. It provides an intimate and accessible way for the local community to learn about astronomy and gaze at the stars, regardless of the weather outside.
Enjoyed this article?
Get daily 10-minute PDFs about astronomy to read before bed!
Sign up for our upcoming micro-learning service where you will learn something new about space and beyond every day while winding down.
