Milky Way Madness

Milky Way Madness, an Astrophotography and Telescopic Night Hike.

Calling all astronomy lovers! Bring your cameras and your coats to explore the night sky from our wide-open prairie. Learn some basic astronomy and try to capture the Milky Way on camera! Don’t worry about bringing a telescope unless you want to. Ours will be set up and ready for you to explore the beautiful sky. Because this hike is centered on being able to see the night sky in all its glory, this event is weather-dependent. As the date approaches, I will keep this page updated with any cancellations or date changes. Don’t worry if you’re not a photographer. You don’t have to be! Everything we’re doing is super basic and does not require special equipment. Many smartphones these days have an astrophotography setting, so you don’t even have to have a fancy camera.

This program is for anyone 16 years or older.

Date: March 6th, 2026

Time: 6:45pm to 8:45pm

Where: The Dutcher Room to the trails

Cost: $8 for non-members / $5 for Dahlem Center members

Cancellations: We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. No-shows will be charged the full amount.

What to Bring: Dress in layers. You never know what Michigan weather is going to do, so be prepared to be bundled up in a coat and gloves, or dressed down in a t-shirt. Bring good walking shoes because this hike is about a 2 to 2 1/2 mile round-trip. If you have a tripod for either your phone or your camera, I highly suggest bringing it along. If you don’t have a tripod, be prepared to set your phone or camera up against something still, like a rock. Having a remote shutter definitely helps, but is not a requirement for the astrophotography portion.