The Birthplace of American Astronomy
See through the oldest public telescope in the country.
Welcome to the
Cincinnati
Observatory
We are a fully functioning 19th century observatory and a National Historic Landmark used daily by the public and amateur astronomers, civic organizations, teachers and students, scouts and history buffs.
Visiting the Observatory
We are open Daytime Hours to see the historic buildings and telescopes, Monday-Friday from Noon-4pm.
And Visit Us in the Evening to view through the telescopes to see the Moon, stars, and planets most Thursday and Friday nights at 8:30pm
SATURNDAYS
August 3 and 10 from 9-11pm
Nothing compares to seeing the rings of Saturn through the Observatory telescopes.
52 WEEKS OF ASTRONOMY
In 2019, we're bringing telescopes and programs to each of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods
Local History Sampler
Sunday July 28 from 1-4pm
Stories from some of the places that make Cincinnati unique
Join Us
Join, donate, and volunteer to make the "Birthplace of American Astronomy" a vibrant center for education and wonder
Public Events
See "What's Up" at the Observatory. Each season has a new planet, star cluster, or nebula to explore
School Programs
Plan a field trip, schedule an outreach visit to your classroom, or gather the scouts for an evening at the Observatory