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Peach Mountain
Peach Mountain is a facility owned by the University of Michigan and is located within Stinchfield Woods (a wood lot owned by the University about four miles from Dexter).
The “Lowbrows” maintain and operate the 24 inch McMath Classical Cassegrain Telescope at The University’s Peach Mountain Observatory..
Public Open Houses or Star Parties are held at the Observatory once a month with a scheduled raindate. Visitors and members are encouraged to bring their telescopes, binoculars and enthusiasm to these functions. Visitors can share views in member telescopes and veiw the cosmos through the McMath telescope.
Upcoming Open House Events
| Title | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| April Lowbrow Open House | Gate opens at sunset. Call 734-975-3248 after 4pm for a recorded message announcing whether the Open House will be conducted. ...For more details, location etc. | 1775937600 Sat, Apr 11, 2026 |
Location and Directions
The Gate to the Peach Mountain Observatory is located at 10280 North Territorial Road, Dexter Michigan, about four miles north of Dexter. Use this address for GPS, not a search or it will bring you to the wrong gate. Lowbrow Open Houses are conducted next to the “UM Radio Telescope” and “McMath Telescope” as labeled on google maps. The google label for “Peach Mountain Observatory” is at the far east end of the area and is not where you want to be.
To get to the observatory, travel 1.1 miles west along North Territorial Road from the Dexter-Pinckney Road intersection. You will see a small maize and blue sign that marks the gate.
Call 734-975-3248 after 4pm for a recorded message announcing whether the Open House will be conducted.
When You Arrive
About Nightvision: The following requests asked of our guests are to help maintain the nightvision of those already observing on the field. It can take 15-20 minutes for our eyes to adjust to the dark allowing us to fully appreciate the objects we are viewing. 1 second of bright headlights or a flashlight can reset out eyes to daytime vision. The eyes then require another time period to readjust to the dark.
- If you brought a telescope or other equipment: STOP at the crest of the hill. Someone will greet you to walk you onto the field. BEFORE DRIVING ANY FURTHER allow a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. If you have lights that come on with the engine (particularly headlights) that cannot be turned off, park on the grass shoulder. We will help you with your equipment if necessary. Exceptions are made for larger instruments, but in all cases stop and get some help. Otherwise turn left and park along the road. Someone will greet you and walk you to the field.
- Please do not use flashlights or your cellphone light as it interfers with night vision of others. Red observing lights are fine. As your eyes adjust to the night, you will find that the skyglow from Ann Arbor and Dexter is sufficient to see. Members hosting will assist you if needed.
- Observing takes place in two areas: one in the field near the radio telescope, and one at the 24 inch McMath telescope. To get to the McMath telescope, walk west from the small parking lot keeping the fence to the left and turn left again keeping the fence to the left. Follow the path for about 700 feet until you see the pale blue building. Inside is the 24 inch telescope. Club members and visitors may set up their telescopes in the field next to the 24 inch telescope.
The Telescopes on Peach Mountain
The Peach Mountain observatory is owned by the University of Michigan and opened in 1955. The area the Lowbrows use is the western site which is dominated by the 26m Peach Mountain Radio Telescope and the 24 Inch McMath-Hulbert Telescope.
The Radio dish was state of the art when built in 1958 with funding provided by the United States Navy Office of Naval Research. Since the mid 1960’s it focused on the monitoring of the flux density and linear polarization of radio emissions from active extragalactic objects. Use of the telescope ceased after 2010 and is no longer in operation.
The McMath-Hulbert telescope has a rich history being the first instrument to actively study our Sun. It was built specifically for this purpose by its namesake Dr. Francis McMath. Originally installed at the McMath observatory north of Pontiac around 1938, it was moved to its current location in 1959. The University has transferred control of the McMath-Hulbert telescope to the University Lowbrow Astronomers in 1979. The McMath serves as the primary instrument used for visitor viewing during Open House events.
