The stars are calling, and Cincinnati Observatory is answering with Scope Out, our annual celebration of everything astronomy! Telescopes of every shape and size will fill the grounds as regional stargazers and astrophotographers gather to share their setups and swap stories about the sky. Bring your questions to our telescope workshop, where our team can help you pick out your first scope, get more out of the one you've got, or troubleshoot minor repairs and maintenance. Don't forget to enter the raffle for a chance to walk away with a brand-new telescope of your own. Round out the day with food truck favorites, live presentations, and activities designed to get kids excited about space. No experience required — just curiosity and a love of the night sky. Telescopic views of the Moon, Saturn, and more - weather permitting.

We're rafflling off a Dwarf Mini Smart Telescope plus accessories! See details here! 

Meet our vendors:

We are pleased to be participating in Ohio Open Doors with our Walk-up Wednesdays.

The Cincinnati Observatory has a rich history dating back to November 9, 1843, when former U.S. President John Quincy Adams, at age 77, delivered a speech and laid the cornerstone atop Mount Adams. Since that founding, the Observatory has been dedicated to sharing astronomical views with Cincinnatians and visitors from around the world. Join us to celebrate almost 183 years of astronomical and historical significance with FREE access to our Mitchel telescope and grounds. Solar viewing will also be provided through our 180 year old Mitchel Telescope, weather permitting. Guests are welcome to stop by anytime from Noon-3pm and no reservations are required.

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. Hands-on tour of our 1845 Mitchel telescope and viewing through the 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.

Presenter: Dr. Wes Ryle

The ringed planet is returning to our evening skies! A favorite for many celestial observers, Saturn’s rings are once again becoming visible as the planet moves out of the “edge-on” period experienced last year. Learn about our exploration of this remote gas giant planet, its icy rings, and its fascinating moons at this informal class.

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

Image credit: NASA

Tickets: $10/person, $30/family (children under 4 free)

Walk-ins welcome!

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

Please note, the September Ice Giants program has moved to October 1.

Hold a piece of the cosmos in your hands at Meet a Meteorite, back again at the Cincinnati Observatory! Local collectors bring real meteorites for you to touch — space rocks that survived a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere — alongside "meteor-wrongs," the earthbound look-alikes people mistake for the real thing. Learn how meteorites are found and identified, where they come from, and what they reveal about the asteroids, planets, and early Solar System that formed them. With engaging talks and hands-on demonstrations, it's a rare chance to connect with 4.5-billion-year-old history, one meteorite at a time.

Tickets: $12/adults, $7/kids and members

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: $10 non-member/$5 kids/Free for Members

Walk-ins welcome!

For most of the 20th century, astronomers assumed the universe's expansion was slowing down under its own gravity. Then in 1998, observations of distant supernovae revealed something nobody expected: the expansion is speeding up. Join us as we trace how that discovery was made, meet the mysterious force behind it, and explore why "dark energy" — despite making up roughly 68% of everything in existence — remains one of the biggest unsolved puzzles in modern physics. No equations required, just a healthy sense of cosmic mystery. 

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

Image credit: NASA

Come and paint with us at the Cincinnati Observatory!

Join us 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  viewing through our historic telescope (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.

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.  SOLD OUT Watch for our November date to release in late Sept./early Oct.

Guest Presenter: John Lynch, Ph.D.

Before Alan Shepard and John Glenn flew into space, the United States had other astronauts named Able, Baker, Ham, and Enos. They weren’t human. They were monkeys and chimpanzees the United States used to research space medicine and to make sure humans could safely leave the Earth’s atmosphere. Learn about the space monkeys and about how they are memorialized in books, films, and museums around the country! 

Presenter Bio: John Lynch is a professor at the University of Cincinnati in the School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies. He is a 2026-2027 fellow at the Niehoff Center for Film and Media Studies, an affiliate of UC’s Center for the Public Engagement with Science, a consultant for the Smithsonian Science Center’s Biotechnology education guide, and a member of the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s inaugural Science Ambassador cohort. He’s an award-winning author and editor of four books and over 60 articles. His work focuses on the communication dynamics and ethical entailments of medical, scientific, and technical communication. His first book—What are Stem Cells? Definition at the Intersection of Science and Politics—won the 2016 National Communication Association’s Health Communication Distinguished Book Award. His second book—Origins of Bioethics: Remembering When Medicine Went Wrong—received the Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology 2020 Book of the Year Award. 

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: University of Alabama Press

The October sky has more than just crisp air and falling leaves to offer — it's home to some genuinely spooky sights, from the eerie glow of the Ghost Nebula to the shadowy Witch Head. Join us for a seasonal tour of fall's most hauntingly beautiful deep-sky objects, paired with the myths and legends that gave many of them their names. Bring your curiosity (and maybe a costume) as we hunt for cosmic phantoms hiding in plain sight overhead. Perfect for anyone looking to get into the Halloween spirit while learning to navigate the autumn sky. 

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

Image credit: NASA

Enjoy some family time at our historic observatory for an out-of-this-world evening of cosmic fun, delicious food, and hands-on exploration.

Event Highlights

• Cosmic Fuel: Enjoy pizza, snacks, and drinks to keep your crew energized throughout the night.
• Telescope Viewing: Peer through our legendary historic telescopes for a guided look at Saturn and stars (weather permitting).
• Space Trivia & Board Games: Test your astronomical knowledge in family-friendly trivia, or challenge each other to a variety of space-themed tabletop games.
• Observatory Scavenger Hunt: Embark on a quest through our historic halls to uncover hidden celestial artifacts, solve cosmic riddles, and win stellar prizes.

Tickets:  $15/adults, $10/kids (Includes pizza, drink, and all activities). Free for children under 3