Forgotten Observatory Unearthed on Michigan State's Campus

The foundations of Michigan State University's first telescope observatory building, built in 1881, were recently discovered during construction work. The circular building housed a 5.5-inch telescope and was used to provide students with hands-on experience in astronomical observation. The discovery offers valuable archaeological insights and allows for on-campus practice for MSU's archaeology students. The original telescope is now on display at MSU's Abrams Planetarium, while modern astronomy research continues at the university using a 24-inch telescope.