Join us for an evening of hands-on science, sweet celebration, and just the right amount of whipped-cream suspense as we honor the most famous irrational number in the universe: π.

This year’s celebration will take place at Clark Montessori High School’s Cafetorium, giving us room to expand the fun. Throughout the evening, step inside our brand-new inflatable planetarium for rotating shows that will transport you across the solar system and beyond. From planetary orbits to the vast structure of galaxies, you’ll discover how one simple ratio connects circles here on Earth to the grand architecture of the cosmos.

Explore interactive activity stations, tackle Pi-themed challenges, and test your knowledge for out-of-this-world prizes. Guests can also enter prize raffles throughout the evening for a chance to take home exciting science-themed items. And of course, pizza will be available for $3 per slice (because we round down in honor of 3.14), while supplies last.

Pi Day wouldn’t be complete without a pie in the face. This year, you’ll be able to sabotage or save your favorite observatory staff member. Guests can donate to either “Pie” or “Spare” their favorite Observatory team members. “Pie” donations will increase their total points while “Spare” will take points away. The highest total at the end of the evening will determine who will bravely receive a whipped-cream comet impact. Every donation helps support the Observatory’s mission—and may determine who needs a towel.

Don’t be a square. Join us for an evening of circles, community, science, and a little delicious chaos as we celebrate Pi Day together.

Ticket: $12/adults, $7/children and members

Weekly Public Program

Astronomy Evening at the Cincinnati Observatory is the perfect program to get acquainted with all of the offerings of your local observatory. Located in picturesque Mount Lookout on the East Side of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest one of its kind in the country that still uses its original telescope from 1845, and now you too will get to participate.

This 90 minute long, family-friendly program features an Astronomy themed presentation on the different things you can experience in the night sky. Tours of our historic buildings and viewing through our telescope takes place during the second part of the evening (weather permitting).

Tickets: $15/adult, $7/child, FREE For Members.  

Reservations required.  Space is limited.

For most of human history, the sky wasn’t just beautiful — it was a warning system. Comets meant disaster. Eclipses meant the Sun was under attack. A full Moon could drive people mad. Even certain dates, like the Ides of March, carried cosmic dread. In this program, we’ll explore famous superstitions tied to astronomical events and calendar cycles, then unpack the real science behind them. Along the way, we’ll see how our brains are wired to find patterns, how fear shaped early interpretations of the sky, and why the real universe is far stranger — and more interesting — than the omens ever were.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members - $25/class, Members - $20/class, Student (with valid ID) - $10/class

The cost is $30 per person. Price includes materials for the activity, snacks, and drinks.

Recommended for ages 12+. 

Embark on a romantic celestial journey with our "Late Night Date Night" at the Cincinnati Observatory. Couples will enjoy a star-filled evening complete with guided stargazing through historic telescopes (weather permitting), an intimate astronomy talk, and a cozy atmosphere perfect for making memories under the night sky. Whether it’s a first date or a special anniversary, this enchanting evening promises to bring the magic of the cosmos a little closer. Ticket price includes admission for two, mocktails, and dessert. 

Tickets: $80 per couple  18+ Only.  

Presenter: Christopher Graney - Vatican Observatory

Planet Earth has been a familiar concept for a mere fraction of recorded history. Until about the mid-1600s, most humans thought of Earth as immobile, likely either dim or simply invisible from the Moon or anywhere else in the heavens, and not (like the planets) participating in what Galileo called "the dance of the stars." But almost as soon as humans started to grasp that Earth is a planet, many also began wondering if perhaps the other planets might be earths. This bold conjecture ignited the whole gripping history and literature of space travel, of extraterrestrials, of other worlds. And yet the thesis that the Universe is full of other worlds like Earth has from the start been fueled more by imagination than by scientific evidence. For all its appeal, it has consistently been undermined by observations of the actual Universe. This talk will be based on material in the new book from Oxford University Press, A Universe of Earths: Our Planet and Other Worlds, from Copernicus to NASA by Dennis Danielson and Christopher M. Graney, and on their related cover article in the March 2026 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.

Speaker bio: Christopher M. Graney is an astronomer and historian of science at the Specola Vaticana (the Vatican’s astronomical observatory) and the Vatican Observatory Foundation. He is the author of four books and numerous scholarly and popular articles on the history of astronomy. Mr. Graney will be available for book sales and signing before and after the event.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class, Members $20/class, Student (with valid ID) $10/class

Tickets: $15/adult, $7/child, FREE for Observatory Members 

Journey to Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and a world of swirling storms, powerful gravity, and dozens of intriguing moons. From the iconic Great Red Spot to hidden oceans beneath icy surfaces, Jupiter reveals a system all its own. Discover how this gas giant shaped the solar system—and continues to influence it today.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class.  Members $20/class.  Students $10/class (Valid Student ID required).

Interstellar Adventures is a Saturday evening program at the Cincinnati Observatory, geared for families with children 5-12 years old. The evening includes adventures that take you around the Observatory and around the Cosmos. Pizza is included in the price of admission. We will view through the telescopes (if clear). Each adventure is around a different space-related theme.

Theme:   Weather

Tickets: $15/adult and $10/child

Explore how the Hubble Space Telescope transformed our understanding of the cosmos. From breathtaking images of distant galaxies to groundbreaking discoveries about the age and expansion of the universe, Hubble has reshaped how we see space. Learn the story behind the telescope that brought the universe into focus.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets:  Non-members $25/class.  Members $20/class.  Students $10/class (with valid ID)

Earth is surrounded by thousands of active satellites—and millions of pieces of debris. This class explores how satellites power modern life, from communication to navigation, and the growing challenge of keeping orbit safe and sustainable. Discover the hidden world above our heads and what it means for the future of space exploration.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class. Members $20/class.  Student (with valid ID) $10/class