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

Special Virtual Class - Live from Lowell Observatory

Dr. Ryle will be live-streaming a presentation from Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, home to the telescope that Clyde Tombaugh used to discover Pluto in 1930. This lecture will overview that initial search for the ninth planet in the Solar System, as well as the current pursuit of an undiscovered world that might be influencing the orbits of distant Kuiper Belt objects. 

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

Free for observatory members and past class attendees. (Registration is still required to receive log-in information.)

Tickets: $10 for all others

Time to get cozy under the stars with our Crafting the Cosmos event at the Cincinnati Observatory. The event will include embroidery, adult coloring sheets, friendship bracelet making, a s’mores station, mocktails, hot chocolate, and viewing through the telescopes (if clear). Grab some friends and your most celestial pair of pajamas and cozy up with us!

Admission is $40/person, Members $30/person; Best for adults and kids ages 16+

Explore our solar system on a guided Planet Walk tour! Starting at our Sun marker, you'll step through the inner planets before venturing out to the gas giants and beyond. Each footstep represents 8.2 million miles, culminating in a 450-foot walk to Pluto. Join us for a cosmic journey through the solar system!

The planet walk is on grassy and slightly uneven terrain. Not suitable for most strollers or wheelchairs.

Tickets: $15 non-member/$10 kids/Free for Members

Walk-ins welcome!

Saturn is back in the night sky!

The Cincinnati Observatory celebrates its return every year with our Saturnday Event. The ringed planet is the star of the show at this festival which will feature informative talks on Saturn, face painting, Permanent Jewelry from Arch&Charm, Cookiefection, building tours, night sky viewing (weather permitting), and more! This event is also a great opportunity to check out our latest museum exhibit, Atomic Labs to Launch Pads: Ohio’s Race to the Stars.

Tickets: $15/adults, $10/kids and members

Stories From Our History

This special program offers those seeking to learn more about the Observatory’s history a more detailed, in-depth guided tour at Noon or 1:30pm. All the wonderful details covered in a Daytime Tour are included - as well as more stories of how the Observatory came to be (and almost didn’t!). You'll also discover the Observatory’s role in weather forecasting and timekeeping as well as visit our interactive Sundial, original 1843 cornerstone, and more! Tours last approximately one hour with plenty of time for questions and some behind-the-scenes fun! Perfect for local history, astronomy and science buffs ages 12 and up.

General Admission $10 (recommended for kids 12+), $5/senior, $5/veteran, FREE for Observatory members

Space is limited.  Advanced reservations are recommended.

A Comprehensive Tour of the Cincinnati Observatory

For 150 years the Cincinnati Observatory has explored the universe from our site in Mt. Lookout. But as the Birthplace of American Astronomy our history goes further back than that.

You’ll hear the fascinating history of the founding of the observatory and learn why 30 years earlier John Quincy Adams traveled to Cincinnati to lay the original cornerstone. We'll explore our two grand telescopes, tour the museum, and take a peek behind the scenes. Learn about the work of our astronomers including their contributions to time-keeping, weather forecasting, World War II and the early space race. Weather permitting we'll treat you to spectacular views of the Moon through the oldest continuously used telescope in the world.

Tickets: $30/person non-member, $25/person members 

Join us for our early-morning events in 2025, Sights Before Sunrise. These are clear-only events so we will let you know the day before if the event is a go. This program is for those who want to be the first to see objects that will be up later in the year at our typical viewing times. This event will include viewing through our historic Mitchel telescope of 1-2 planets and the
Moon. Coffee and donuts will be available.

$5/person, Free for members. If you would like to join our email list for cancellation notices, please fill out this form.

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.  September is SOLD OUT.

Reservations required.  Space is limited.

Our popular Late Night Date Night event at the observatory is getting an upgrade for Sweetest Day! For this night only, the evening will include beer and wine, a special gift bag, and all the romance the observatory has to offer. The evening begins with love stories from the observatory’s past and from the heavens above. Guests can then explore the observatory grounds and buildings, enjoying a lantern-lit stroll along our planet walk, drinks & desserts, and night sky viewing through our historic telescopes (weather permitting). Don’t miss this chance for a unique experience for you and your partner!

Space is extremely limited and we anticipate this event will sell out. Register today!

Ticket price includes admission for one couple, desserts, non-alcholic beverages, and 2 glasses of beer or wine per guest. Additional glasses of beer or wine available for $5 each.

21+ only please

Tickets: $100 per couple This event is SOLD OUT.

Guest Presenter: Dave Bosse

Binoculars may not be the Hubble, but they’re powerful, portable, and perfect for exploring the night sky. With both eyes working together, you get a more dynamic view than a telescope often provides—plus a wider slice of the heavens. In this workshop, we’ll share tips and tricks for getting the most out of your binoculars, from craters on the Moon to finding brighter star clusters. Bring your own pair—any size or brand—and we’ll do some sky viewing if the weather cooperates. Thinking of buying binoculars? We’ll also cover how to choose the right set for stargazing.

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

Tickets:

Non-members - $20/class

Members - $15/class

Student (with valid ID) - $10/class

Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes, Kimberley Lane

Come and paint with us at the Cincinnati Observatory!

Join us on October 22, 7-9 PM, for a fun and creative night out where we'll learn how to paint a beautiful space-related masterpiece. You don't need any experience to join - each step of the painting process will be guided by Sarah Hellmann from Art for All People. Plus, enjoy delicious light bites while creating your beautiful artwork. The evening will end with a tour of the Observatory and viewing through the telescopes (if clear).

The cost is $60 per person and includes all your supplies, food, and drinks. The cost of the ticket benefits Art for All People and the Cincinnati Observatory. Recommended for ages 16+.

Meet our artist for the evening, Sarah Hellmann!
Sarah Hellmann is an author, artist, and speaker. After earning her PhD from the University of Cincinnati, she founded the nonprofit, Art for All People, a ministry that brings the arts to those effected by incarceration, addiction, mental illness, human trafficking, and veterans who suffer from PTSD. Sarah is a life-long artist. Her mission is to encourage others to use their inherent creativity toward healing and empowerment. Sarah recently published her book, Broken-Down Jalopies and Other Short Stories: Perspective Changes Everything. Available on Amazon.

Get ready for a night of spooky fun and celestial wonders at the Cincinnati Observatory! Join us for Hocus Focus, a one-of-a-kind Halloween event that combines the magic of the season with the mysteries of the cosmos. Put on your best costume and explore our buildings and grounds, stopping by our trick-or-treat stations making your way through a thrilling scavenger hunt. As darkness falls, venture out on our spooky planet walk, where you can stroll through a scale model of the solar system. Step inside and listen to family-friendly talks about outer space. The event includes adult and children’s costume contests with freeze-dried candy prizes!

This is the perfect event for all ages to enjoy a night of festive frights and astronomical delights.

Tickets $12/adult, $7/child and members

Walk-ins welcome!

Presenter: Dr. Wes Ryle

In honor of Halloween, we’re going extra-terrestrial! One of the biggest questions in astronomy is “Are We Alone?” and the search for life outside of Earth has been a high priority for NASA since its inception. In this class, we’ll explore past close calls, from hints of microorganisms on Mars and in meteorites to possible atmospheric signatures on distant exoplanets. We’ll also take a look at the most promising places scientists are searching today and what discoveries might lie ahead.

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

Operation Moonwatch in the Queen City

Operation Moonwatch was part of a nationwide citizen science effort in the late 1950s to track the first artificial satellites during the dawn of the Space Age. In Cincinnati, teams of citizen astronomers volunteered their time and telescopes to scan the skies and report satellite sightings. The Cincinnati Astronomical Society and the Cincinnati Observatory assisted with this program, providing resources to the public, and identifying and tracking these early satellites with precision. Bridging the gap between professional science and public participation, they continued the lasting legacy of Cincinnati’s rich astronomical history.

Non-members - $20 / Children $5 / Members $15

Walk-ins welcome!

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:   Saturn

Join us for at least 4 Interstellar Adventures in 2025 to be entered to win a free Family Membership to the Cincinnati Observatory in 2026!

Tickets: $15/adult and $10/child

 Tickets: Members $50, General Public $60 

Space is limited for this fabulous event, so sign up today! 21+ only, please.