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

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 a fraction of a second — or maybe a few minutes — a gamma-ray burst can outshine everything else in the observable universe combined. These staggering explosions were one of astronomy's greatest mysteries when first discovered, and even today they're keeping scientists up at night. We'll explore what causes these cosmic detonations, how astronomers detect them across billions of light-years, and what the latest observations from JWST are teaching us about the universe's most extreme events.

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

Join us at Madtree Brewing to gaze at the stars and learn through hands-on fun in this astronomy-themed pop up. The Cincinnati Observatory will present planetarium shows in their inflatable planetarium, provide space-themed crafts and activities for kids, and end the night with Out of this World Trivia with Astronomer, Dr. Wes Ryle. There is something for science lovers of all ages at this once a month pop-up!

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

Walk-ins welcome!

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

Adults only please. 

Venus is Earth's closest neighbor and nearly identical in size — so why did it become a scorching hellscape while Earth became a paradise for life? In this class, we'll explore the bizarre world of Venus: its crushing atmosphere, runaway greenhouse effect, and strange retrograde rotation. We'll also look at what Venus may teach us about climate, planetary evolution, and the search for life elsewhere in the solar system. 

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

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.

Themes:   June - the Sun

                  July - Rockets

Tickets: $15/adult and $10/child

Stars are rarely born alone. From the nearby Pleiades to the dense globular clusters orbiting the heart of our galaxy, star clusters come in stunning variety — and they hold some of astronomy's best secrets. In this class, we'll explore the two main types of clusters, what they tell us about stellar age and evolution, and how astronomers use them as cosmic measuring sticks. We'll also highlight clusters visible in June's night 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

Journey to the stars and indulge in an afternoon of refined elegance at our Afternoon Tea at the Cincinnati Observatory. Nestled amidst the historic domes and telescopes, you'll experience a truly unique tea party, blending the wonders of the cosmos with the comforting ritual of afternoon tea. A presentation on Victorian era tea and dress etiquette at the Cincinnati Observatory in the Victorian age will take you back in time and place you amongst the many distinguished guests that came to visit.

Our carefully curated menu features a selection of Churchill's teas and treats from Bonbonerie.
Your ticket includes tea, light bites, and a celestial inspired goodie bag to take home.

Tickets: $60/person

This is a FREE event.

Parking Recommendations

Take some time on the longest day of the year to come celebrate all things Sun! Join us to celebrate our closest stellar neighbor, eat some s’mores, and safely view the Sun through our 1845 telescope (weather permitting). This event includes talks about the Sun by our Astronomer, Wes Ryle, sundial demonstrations, face painting, and more! The program runs rain
or shine.

Tickets: $12/adult, $7/child or member