Hemlock Crossing Public Observatory
The observatory is open to the public on Friday evenings throughout the year whenever viewing conditions allow. Dress appropriately as the temperature inside the observatory will match the outside ambient temperature. Night sky tour includes: visible planets, the Moon, galaxies, star clusters and planetary nebulae. When viewing conditions call for overcast skies, chance of rain or snow, the viewing session will be canceled.
Club Meetings
Club meetings are open to the public. They occur at 7pm on the second Thursday of the month throughout the school year (September – May). Meetings are held in the planetarium at Macatawa Bay School 3700 140th Avenue, Holland, Michigan. There are no club meetings in the summer months (June – July – August).
Click here for directions to Macatawa Bay School.
Lectures at Hemlock Crossing
SAAA presents informational and educational lectures at Hemlock Crossing inside the Nature Education Center. Programs are followed by public observatory sessions accompanied by member’s telescopes. The goal is to have fun while learning.
2026 Lecture Schedule
| Date | Time | Title | Presenter |
| Jan 10 | 7 pm | Lecture: Life Beyond Earth | Mike Long |
| Feb 14 | 7 pm | Lecture: The Sun and its Observing Space Missions | Karl Rijkse |
| Mar 14 | 7 pm | Lecture: Who Named Jupiter’s Largest Moons |
Frank Roldan |
| Apr 11 | 7 pm | Lecture: Spring and Summer Sky |
Barry Schoenfelner |
| May 9 | 7 pm | Lecture: Perspectives of Scale |
Art Fleming |
| Sep 12 | 7 pm | Lecture: Autumn and Winter Sky |
Frank Roldan |
| Oct 10 | 7 pm | Lecture: Buying a Telescope |
Barry Schoenfelner |
| Nov 14 | 7 pm | Lecture: Past, Present and Future of the Universe |
Casey Bartman |
