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). There is a radio telescope and other equipment on Peach Mountain operated by various departments in the University. There is also a 24 inch optical telescope operated by the University Lowbrow Astronomers.
Location
Peach Mountain is located on North Territorial Road about four miles north of Dexter.
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.
We request that you turn cellular telephones and similar equipment off at this point (they interfere with ongoing research work). IN ALL CASES DRIVE SLOWLY. THAT MEANS: WALKING SPEED OR 5 M.P.H. Travel along the dirt road up the hill. If arriving after dark, turn your headlights off BEFORE you come over the crest of the hill.
If you brought a telescope or other equipment: STOP at the crest of the hill and find someone 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.
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.
Maps
Peach Mountain from the Air
The circular structure on the left is the University of Michigan Radio Telescope. It has been in operation since 1958. The control building for the radio telescope is next to the radio dish and holds equipment that position the telescope and record data (it is difficult to see in this photograph – it is partly obscured by the dish). These operations can take place 24 hours a day even without a human operator present.
The oval structure on the right is a radio telescope which was put into operation in 1955, but has not been used for many years. The rectangular building next to the small radio telescope originally held equipment that controlled the radio dish. Since that time it has been used for a variety of purposes such as research on aurora activity. It is currently used by the Astronomy Department as a dark sky observatory for astronomy students and by the Physics Department to conduct measurements on night sky brightness levels. The night sky measurements may give information on light pollution which has been a steadily increasing problem even in locations such as Peach Mountain.
A path is visible that leads from the small radio telescope to a rectangular building near the bottom of the photograph. This building houses the Francis C. McMath Telescope.
The Observatory Building
The McMath Telescope is located 700 feet from the 26 meter radio telescope on Peach Mountain. It is a rectangular building with a movable roof. This building does not have a dome. When the telescope is unused, the roof is moved over the telescope protecting it from the elements. When the telescope is used, the roof is moved out of the way allowing observations to occur.
This is the telescope now used by the University Lowbrow Astronomers. The Lowbrows have made various refinements including the addition of a 6 inch refracting telescope which is permanently mounted to the side of the 24 inch telescope.
Observatory Building from the South
The photo above shows the building housing the 24 inch McMath Telescope. This shows the southwest corner of the building. The 24 inch telescope is visible as a black tube sticking out above the building. The 6 inch refractor is the small tube above the 24 inch telescope. The roof is the white structure to the left of the building. The roof is in the open position. When the observatory is closed, the roof is moved to the closed position so that rain cannot get into the building.
The Comet Hale-Bopp is visible between the trees. The white disk in the distance behind the observatory building is the University of Michigan Radio Telescope.
Observatory Building from the North
This shows the north side of the observatory building. The roof is in the closed position. Before an observing session, the roof is moved to the open position along the railroad tracks. After an observing session the roof is returned to the closed position.
Photo Credits
- Peach Mountain from the Air—Photograph by Peter Alway during the Summer of 2000.
- Observatory Building from the South—Photograph by Mark Vincent. 28 mm Lens, 1 minute exposure, ASA-400 Film. Taken the Morning of March 24, 1997.
- Observatory Building from the North—Photograph by Mike Radwick.