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 with tours at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm
And Visit Us in the Evening to view through the telescopes to see the Moon, stars, and planets every Thursday and Friday night at 7pm
52 WEEKS OF ASTRONOMY
In 2019, we're bringing telescopes and programs to each of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE
Sunday January 20, 10pm-Midnight
Mark your calendars and stay up late with us to behold the Sun, Moon and Earth in perfect alignment
THE OBSERVATORY WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY JANUARY 12 & Sunday January 13
Due to the weather all programs are canceled that day. If you have tickets for the Late Night Date Night, please call us at 513-321-5186 to reschedule.
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