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

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)

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.

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 Check out our Observatory After Hours on April 25.

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

They're not just cosmic debris — asteroids are time capsules from the birth of our solar system, and the asteroid belt is one of its most fascinating neighborhoods. In May, one of the belt's largest inhabitants, the asteroid Vesta, is at its brightest in the night sky — making this the perfect moment to take a peek. We'll tour the belt, meet some of its most remarkable residents, and discover what missions like Dawn and Psyche are revealing about these ancient worlds. Join us and find out why asteroids are anything but ordinary!

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

Every spring, as the Milky Way's dusty band sinks below the horizon, a remarkable window opens up — one that lets us peer far beyond our own galaxy into a vast sea of other worlds. The constellation Virgo and its neighbors host one of the largest concentrations of galaxies visible from Earth, and May is the ideal month to find them. We'll take a guided tour of the spring constellations, learn how to spot the famous Virgo Cluster, and discover why seasoned observers circle "galaxy season" on their calendars every year. 

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: Fernando Pena

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