Events
Astronomy Evenings
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. July is SOLD OUT.
Reservations required. Space is limited.
Family Astronomy Night
Tickets: $15/adult, $7/child, Free for Observatory Members
Exploring the Cosmos with JWST
History Bites at Night
The Brightest Stars: The Legacy of Cincinnati's Women Astronomers
As the Birthplace of American Astronomy, the Cincinnati Observatory has been observing the stars for over 180 years. Yet, many of those stars, namely the women astronomers of the Observatory, have often been overlooked. Women like Louisa Trask Mitchel, who was likely the first person to observe Neptune to Antoinette Kettenacker, an accomplished mathematician who was published on her work with the computation of orbits. Numerous women have contributed to astronomy in Cincinnati in stellar ways. This trend continues with the Observatory’s current staff which includes its first female Executive Director and a majority female staff.
Come learn about the brightest stars of Cincinnati, the decades of women paving the way in astronomy at the Cincinnati Observatory with Assistant Collections Manager, Mandy Askins.
$15 for non-members, Free for Members
Walk-ins welome!
Late Night Date Night
At the Cincinnati Observatory
Looking for a romantic night out and under the stars? Come see what the Observatory is like after hours. You'll get to use telescopes to view astronomical objects that are not visible until late at night (weather permitting). Get a sneak preview of the next season's planets and stars a month or two ahead of everyone else.
The program runs rain or shine. If the weather does not permit viewing, we'll have fun showing you around the universe and behind the scenes at the Observatory.
Tickets: $30 per person
Space is limited to no more than 40 people. Adults Only. Singles welcome.
Class Series 2: The Solar System
Calling all space nerds and current events enthusiasts! Think you know your stuff? Grab your crew and join us on August 29, 7pm for Trivia Night at the Cincinnati Observatory. Top three teams will win an out-of-this-world prize!
21+ please
Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks provided.
Tickets: $60/team, up to 6 people, $20/individual
ScopeOut 2024
You’ve heard of car shows, but how about a telescope show? Come out for our annual telescope festival and see all the different types of telescopes the tri-state has to offer! Dozens of astronomy enthusiasts from the community will set up their telescopes and share their knowledge, passion, and expertise between 6-8 pm in addition to informative talks on telescope basics and night sky navigation. Then as darkness falls, from 8-10 pm telescope operators will share views through their own telescopes (weather permitting). We are also encouraging everyone to bring any unwanted telescopes and accessories for an equipment swap.
Great for beginners and longtime stargazers alike. As an added bonus, we’ll be holding two telescope raffles, one for kids and one for adults.
No registration required - tickets will be sold at the door.
Tickets: $12/adult, $7/child (ages 5-17)
