WSU Planetarium celebrates Statewide Astronomy Night at Belle Isle

The Wayne State University Planetarium teamed up with a slate of community partners on April 25 for its fifth Statewide Astronomy Night at the Belle Isle Nature Center, drawing nearly 140 visitors for a free evening of stargazing, hands-on science and astronomy education.

The event coincided with both International Astronomy Day and Michigan Statewide Astronomy Night, an annual initiative that encourages organizations across the state to host local programming when the moon is visible.

"Our main goal is to allow members of the community who have never used a telescope to try one out and get an up-close view of the moon," said Wayne State University Planetarium Director Megan McCullen. "It really is stunning to see the moon's craters up close with your own eyes and not just on a computer screen."

The WSU Planetarium first partnered with the Belle Isle Nature Center on the event in 2022. The collaboration has since expanded to include the Michigan Science Center, the Sierra Club, Michigan DNR's Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) and local astronomy organizations like the Warren Astronomical Society.

In addition, several WSU alumni were represented among the partner organizations, including Michelle Serreyn, a three-time Wayne State alumna and educational programmer at the OAC. Amy Greene, a WSU College of Education alumna and director of the Belle Isle Nature Center, led the event.

While cloudy skies kept attendees from viewing the moon directly, McCullen said the overcast conditions still offered a learning opportunity. "It's actually easier to practice using a telescope by looking at these closer objects here on Earth, rather than objects up in space. The kids were so excited to see these things up close through the telescope."

The collaboration traces back to a shared commitment between the WSU Planetarium and the Belle Isle Nature Center - one rooted in promoting dark skies, reducing light pollution, and bringing accessible science programming to Detroit communities. That partnership has grown steadily over the years, drawing in new organizations and volunteers along the way.

"This has moved us into a fantastic collaboration with many community partners, and we now work together on a variety of initiatives," said McCullen.