(Partial) Solar Eclipse | April 8 | 11:00am - 4:00pm

Join our astronomers and fellow celestial enthusiasts for a (partial) solar eclipse viewing party! Enjoy viewing through telescopes, astronomy-themed activities, planetarium shows, and more. 

Beginning at 1:58pm, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun. Although Michigan is just outside the path of totality, the Moon will still cover 98.1% of the Sun at its peak (at 3:14pm) for Michiganders - nearly a total solar eclipse!   

Not to mention, the next total solar eclipse visible in Michigan won’t take place until 2099!

Hands-on activities include:

🌗 Use a model moon to learn what happens in a partial, annular, and total solar eclipse 

🌒 Experiment to see how the Moon can block the Sun

🌕 Use a flashlight to view the craters of the Moon, then make some craters of your own 

☀️ Make your own model of the Sun’s outermost layer to take home 

🌤️ Make a personal UV bead bracelet 

🌟Challenge your knowledge of space objects with a sorting game 

🌌 And more!

Activities are available with the purchase of general admission and run from 11:00am to 4:00pm indoors. 

For clear and safe observation of the event, special eclipse-viewing glasses will be available for purchase at our Science Shop.

Speaker Series | Dr. Paul Sereno, Hunting Feathered Dinosaurs and Colossal Crocs | April 25 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm



Discover the spectacular journey of an explorer who has discovered dinosaurs on five continents! 🦖

Join us on April 25, as we welcome Dr. Paul Sereno, University of Chicago Professor and National Geographic Explorer, for a dynamic speaker series on his expeditions resurrecting long-extinct creatures.

Dr. Sereno’s field studies began in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina, where he discovered the earliest dinosaurs, and went on to the Sahara and Gobi Deserts, India’s Thar Desert, and remote valleys in Tibet.  

His many expeditions have unveiled spectacular crocodiles and dinosaurs, including giant 50-foot-long predators, digging raptors, head-butting dwarfs, and a 40-foot-long SuperCroc! 🐊

Early Earth Day Celebration | April 20 | 11:00am - 3:00pm

Celebrate Earth Day early at the Institute and engage in fun nature and conservation-themed activities for all ages. Join us as we celebrate all things Mother Nature from the water, land, soil, and more!

Hands-on activities include:



🌊 Design, build, and test a device to help remove plastics from the Great Lakes

♻️ Craft a recycled creation to take home 

💦 Learn about the science behind soil erosion with our water sprayer

🌱 Experience a seed’s first sprout 

🐝 Learn about the importance of pollinators with a fun pollination game

🌿 Create your own germination kit 

🫧 Test different strategies to clean an oil spill 

🗺️ Embark on an indoor-outdoor nature-themed scavenger hunt

🌎 And more!

All activities are FREE with the purchase of general admission.

Don't Forget 

• Register for Free First Friday (April 5), courtesy of MASCO. If you're arriving between 10:00am - 5:00pm, walk-ups are welcome. Pre-registration is required after 5:00pm. 
• Register for Free Third Thursday (April 18), courtesy of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and enjoy the museum for FREE between 5:00 - 8:00pm. You can also visit the Cranbrook Art Museum for FREE from 11:00am - 8:00pm. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Walk-ups are welcome, but due to capacity limits, entrance is not guaranteed. 
• Experience everything the museum has to offer for only $5 every Friday after 5:00pm! General admission, Galileo exhibition, and Acheson Planetarium tickets will be available for just $5 each. 
• Looking to make the most of your weekend with some dino-themed fun? exploreLAB is now open on select Saturdays, Sundays, and school breaks. Visit our website for more details. 
• Have you ever wanted to spend the night at the museum? Now is your chance with Saturday Science! Explore Galileo, astronomy, paleontology, crime scene investigation, and more.