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Solar eclipse 2017: Where to watch in Michigan

Viewing events and parties in and around Detroit

By Michelle Goldchain Updated
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By Michelle Goldchain Updated
Image via Shutterstock/muratart

Note: This map was originally published August 10 and updated with the most recent information.

Don’t feel left out during this year’s partial solar eclipse. On Monday, August 21, there are myriad locations in Michigan offering games, programming, and safe solar eclipse glasses and telescopes. Of course, you can always just step outside for the eclipse, but make sure to stay safe! For ideas on where to get glasses, check back here.

Also check in with your nearest library, as many have glasses, events, and information.

Depending on where you are in Detroit, the moon will eclipse the sun by approximately 79 percent at around 2:27 p.m. Want to find out how much of the sun will be covered, according to your ZIP code? Check out this Curbed Detroit article to find out.

The map points are ordered geographically, from north to south. Did we miss any perfect solar eclipse-watching spots? Let Curbed Detroit know in the comments.

• Detroit’s solar eclipse: what to expect and when to expect it [Curbed Detroit]

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1. Robert T. Longway Planetarium

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1310 E Kearsley St
Flint, MI 48503
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In the dome of this planetarium, visitors will be able to witness a live stream of the solar eclipse. There will also be free safe solar telescope observations and a show, called, “Eclipse: The Sun Revealed,” that will play at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Food will also be available for purchase. At the gift shop, solar eclipse glasses are available for $1.

2. Kent District Library - East Grand Rapids Branch

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746 Lakeside Dr SE
East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
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If you’re near this library, it’s worth a visit on August 21. From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., this branch will offer free solar eclipse glasses as well as games and activities.

Photo via Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

3. Brandenburg Park, New Baltimore

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50050 Jefferson Ave
New Baltimore, MI 48047
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Chesterfield's Brandenburg Park will hold a viewing party with members of the Warren Astronomical Society. This event will also include solar-safe telescopes and eclipse glasses will be available. There is a fee to enter the park.

4. Cranbrook Institute of Science

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39221 Woodward Ave
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Visit Website

On August 21, the Cranbrook Institute of Science will host a day’s worth of events to celebrate the solar eclipse, beginning at 11 a.m. From the observatory, visitors will also be able to see a live stream from locations in the path of totality. All activities are free with museum admission, except for planetarium programs, according to the website.

Photo via Cranbrook Science

5. The Adventure Park at West Bloomfield

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6600 W Maple Rd
West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322
(248) 419-1550
(248) 419-1550
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Looking for a little more adventure? The Adventure Park at West Bloomfield is holding a Zip the Eclipse event from 1-4 p.m. The first 100 people will get free classes, and guests can “zip through our Night Sky Zip Tunnel, jump with cows over the moon and guess the number of moons in a jar for a chance to win free tickets back to The Adventure Park.”

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6. Lawrence Technological University

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21000 W 10 Mile Rd
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 204-4000
(248) 204-4000
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The quad at Lawrence Tech University will be set up for a solar eclipse viewing party, with plenty of info and those coveted solar eclipse glasses. More on that here.

Solar Eclipse Illustration, Shutterstock

7. Michigan Science Center

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5020 John R St
Detroit, MI 48202
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From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Michigan Science Center will host a solar eclipse-watching party with earth and space activities, safe solar telescopes, and even pinhole solar viewers. Throughout the building and in the Toyota Engineering Theater, the Michigan Science Center also plans on live streaming the eclipse.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Michael Barera

8. The Whitney

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4421 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-5700
(313) 832-5700
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Can’t let the eclipse get in the way of high tea. The Whitney will be holding a Moonbeam Tea Solar Eclipse Celebration starting at 1 p.m. $50 includes lunch, the viewing party, and a gift.

Truly a "Once in a Lifetime" Tea Party! Join us to view the Solar Eclipse from the beautiful Whitney Gardens on Monday...

Posted by The Whitney Restaurant - Detroit on Wednesday, August 9, 2017

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9. Dexter District Library

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3255 Alpine St
Dexter, MI 48130
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In front of this library, there are plans to celebrate the solar eclipse with sidewalk chalk, stories, games, and refreshments offered. There will also be solar eclipse glasses passed out for safety purposes.

Photo via NASA/The Exploratorium

10. University of Michigan

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Visit Website

Don’t just (safely) glimpse at the solar eclipse; understand it too. At the University of Michigan, there will be a program that discusses the significance of the natural phenomenon. There will also be a “live star talk” included. The cost for the planetarium is $5 for adults, seniors, and children. The event will take place in the Ruthven Museums Building.

The University of Michigan’s Frances Willson Thompson Library.
Photo via TrueWolverine87

11. Lincoln Park High School

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1701 Champaign Rd
Lincoln Park, MI 48146
(313) 389-0234
(313) 389-0234
Visit Website

The Ford Amateur Astronomy Club is hosting a Solar Eclipse Event at Hector J. Robinson Observatory at Lincoln Park High School. It starts at 11 a.m. and includes solar telescopes and filtered binoculars.

12. Ella Sharp Museum

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3225 Fourth St
Jackson, MI 49203
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There doesn’t seem to be any programming planned at this museum, but if you’re in the area, you should definitely go here simply to grab a pair of solar eclipse glasses. They’re up for grabs free of charge.

Photo via Shutterstock

13. Ypsilanti District Library

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Visit Website

At no cost, this library is handing on solar eclipse glasses, starting August 7. Be sure to grab some while you can as there is a limited number available. On the day of the event, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., there will be a solar eclipse party. The eclipse will also be live streamed online. No registration is required.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Dwight Burdette

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1. Robert T. Longway Planetarium

1310 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503

In the dome of this planetarium, visitors will be able to witness a live stream of the solar eclipse. There will also be free safe solar telescope observations and a show, called, “Eclipse: The Sun Revealed,” that will play at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Food will also be available for purchase. At the gift shop, solar eclipse glasses are available for $1.

1310 E Kearsley St
Flint, MI 48503
Visit Website

2. Kent District Library - East Grand Rapids Branch

746 Lakeside Dr SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Photo via Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

If you’re near this library, it’s worth a visit on August 21. From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., this branch will offer free solar eclipse glasses as well as games and activities.

746 Lakeside Dr SE
East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Visit Website

3. Brandenburg Park, New Baltimore

50050 Jefferson Ave, New Baltimore, MI 48047

Chesterfield's Brandenburg Park will hold a viewing party with members of the Warren Astronomical Society. This event will also include solar-safe telescopes and eclipse glasses will be available. There is a fee to enter the park.

50050 Jefferson Ave
New Baltimore, MI 48047
Visit Website

4. Cranbrook Institute of Science

39221 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Photo via Cranbrook Science

On August 21, the Cranbrook Institute of Science will host a day’s worth of events to celebrate the solar eclipse, beginning at 11 a.m. From the observatory, visitors will also be able to see a live stream from locations in the path of totality. All activities are free with museum admission, except for planetarium programs, according to the website.

39221 Woodward Ave
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Visit Website

5. The Adventure Park at West Bloomfield

6600 W Maple Rd, West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322
Facebook

Looking for a little more adventure? The Adventure Park at West Bloomfield is holding a Zip the Eclipse event from 1-4 p.m. The first 100 people will get free classes, and guests can “zip through our Night Sky Zip Tunnel, jump with cows over the moon and guess the number of moons in a jar for a chance to win free tickets back to The Adventure Park.”

6600 W Maple Rd
West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322
(248) 419-1550
Visit Website

6. Lawrence Technological University

21000 W 10 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI 48075
Solar Eclipse Illustration, Shutterstock

The quad at Lawrence Tech University will be set up for a solar eclipse viewing party, with plenty of info and those coveted solar eclipse glasses. More on that here.

21000 W 10 Mile Rd
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 204-4000
Visit Website

7. Michigan Science Center

5020 John R St, Detroit, MI 48202
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Michael Barera

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Michigan Science Center will host a solar eclipse-watching party with earth and space activities, safe solar telescopes, and even pinhole solar viewers. Throughout the building and in the Toyota Engineering Theater, the Michigan Science Center also plans on live streaming the eclipse.

5020 John R St
Detroit, MI 48202
Visit Website

8. The Whitney

4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Can’t let the eclipse get in the way of high tea. The Whitney will be holding a Moonbeam Tea Solar Eclipse Celebration starting at 1 p.m. $50 includes lunch, the viewing party, and a gift.

4421 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-5700
Visit Website

9. Dexter District Library

3255 Alpine St, Dexter, MI 48130
Photo via NASA/The Exploratorium

In front of this library, there are plans to celebrate the solar eclipse with sidewalk chalk, stories, games, and refreshments offered. There will also be solar eclipse glasses passed out for safety purposes.

3255 Alpine St
Dexter, MI 48130
Visit Website

10. University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan’s Frances Willson Thompson Library.
Photo via TrueWolverine87

Don’t just (safely) glimpse at the solar eclipse; understand it too. At the University of Michigan, there will be a program that discusses the significance of the natural phenomenon. There will also be a “live star talk” included. The cost for the planetarium is $5 for adults, seniors, and children. The event will take place in the Ruthven Museums Building.

Visit Website

11. Lincoln Park High School

1701 Champaign Rd, Lincoln Park, MI 48146

The Ford Amateur Astronomy Club is hosting a Solar Eclipse Event at Hector J. Robinson Observatory at Lincoln Park High School. It starts at 11 a.m. and includes solar telescopes and filtered binoculars.

1701 Champaign Rd
Lincoln Park, MI 48146
(313) 389-0234
Visit Website

12. Ella Sharp Museum

3225 Fourth St, Jackson, MI 49203
Photo via Shutterstock

There doesn’t seem to be any programming planned at this museum, but if you’re in the area, you should definitely go here simply to grab a pair of solar eclipse glasses. They’re up for grabs free of charge.

3225 Fourth St
Jackson, MI 49203
Visit Website

13. Ypsilanti District Library

Ypsilanti Charter Twp, MI 48197
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Dwight Burdette

At no cost, this library is handing on solar eclipse glasses, starting August 7. Be sure to grab some while you can as there is a limited number available. On the day of the event, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., there will be a solar eclipse party. The eclipse will also be live streamed online. No registration is required.

Visit Website