The Cincinnati Observatory's 1845 Telescope Is Running the Fall Schedule While the Herget Building Is Closed

Since July 2026, the Cincinnati Observatory has been running on half of its campus. The Herget Building, the Clark telescope and the museum spaces are closed for a renovation, and the Observatory's goal is to reopen the Herget Building in Summer 2027. The Mitchel Building is still open, along with the Mitchel telescope, which the Observatory describes as "the oldest public telescope still available for viewing in this hemisphere."

So for the next several months, the Observatory on the hill above Mount Lookout Square is a smaller version of itself, and the part that stayed open is the oldest part. The fall calendar is built around that. Most programs are Mitchel dome tours, talks and walks around the streets near the Observatory, and the rest happen at partner venues off the hill.

What Closed, and What Stayed Open

According to the Observatory's renovation page, this is how the campus is split right now.

Unavailable until the Herget Building reopens:

• The Herget Building
• The Clark telescope
• The museum spaces

Still running in the Mitchel Building:

• Tours of the Mitchel dome, with viewing through the Mitchel telescope
• Astronomy Evenings
• Dr. Wes's classes
• Family Astronomy Nights
• Private events and rentals

The visitor FAQ also says the Observatory is "currently open by appointment only." It points visitors to the events page for programs at the Mitchel site and off-site. In practice, a casual drop-in visit isn't really an option this fall. You get in by booking a specific program.

The 1845 Telescope Is the Center of the Visit

The Astronomy Evening listing describes the Observatory as "the oldest one of its kind in the country that still uses its original telescope from 1845." That's the instrument the program is built around. The listing calls it a 90-minute program, though the October 30 session is scheduled from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Each evening opens with an astronomy presentation, and in the second half guests get a hands-on tour of the Mitchel telescope and a look through it, weather permitting. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $7 for children, members get in free, and reservations are required.

Four Astronomy Evenings are left in October. The ones on October 15, 16 and 23 run from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The longer October 30 session is the last one this month.

With the Clark telescope and the museum closed, the Mitchel telescope is the main thing to see on any visit right now. If you've only ever toured the Observatory alongside out-of-town guests and spent most of the time in the museum, this fall's visit is built differently.

The Programs Have Moved Outdoors and Off the Hill

The renovation page says the Observatory will "also be out in the community collaborating with several partners on programming." Two October programs show what that means for Mount Lookout in particular.

The first is a walk around the neighborhood itself. "Celestial Foundations: Exploring the Observatory's Architecture" is a historic-architecture walking tour of the Observatory, Observatory Place and Avery Lane. It's on October 20 at 6 p.m., and tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for members. It's one of the few programs on the schedule that looks at the houses around the Observatory as part of its history.

The second leaves Mount Lookout entirely. On October 29, the Observatory is hosting a Pop-up Planetarium at MadTree's Oakley location from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person or $30 per family, children under 4 get in free, and the last planetarium show starts at 7:40 p.m.

Members also get something new this year. The renovation FAQ lists a members-only experience in the Observatory's "brand-new inflatable Starlab planetarium" and a members-only class with Dr. Wes. Members keep free admission to Astronomy Evenings and Family Astronomy Night, plus discounts on tours and Dr. Wes's classes.

The Rest of the Fall Calendar

Here's everything on the Observatory's events page from today through mid-November, along with the one big Ault Park event in the same stretch. Prices and times are as listed. The October Family Astronomy Night is already sold out.

Dr. Wes's Tuesday classes continue through the end of the year. The 2026 class schedule lists October 27, November 10 and 17, and December 1, 8 and 15, and says topics are announced at least a month ahead.

October 23 is the busiest night on the hill. The Astronomy Evening at the Observatory runs from 8 to 9:30 p.m. That same night, the Ault Park Advisory Council is holding its HallowEve Brew Bash at the Ault Park Pavilion, 5090 Observatory Circle. Tickets are $30 through October 19 and $40 after that, and each ticket includes ten five-ounce tastings. The council's page lists 6 to 8 p.m. in one spot and 6 to 10 p.m. in its main description. Visit Cincy also lists 6 to 10 p.m. Check with the council before you plan your night around the later end time.

What the Herget Building Is Getting

The renovation expands the collections and archive space so the Observatory's collections can be stored and cared for in better conditions. It also adds a viewing area for items that usually aren't on display, which will be open during tours and events, and installs ADA-compliant restrooms.

The Observatory posts construction updates every couple of weeks. The September 2 update covered demolition, basement excavation, structural repairs and preservation work. It also noted that historic features being removed are not being demolished, and that the work follows historic-preservation standards. The September 15 update moved on to underground plumbing and archive cabinetry.

The September 29 update shows how much of this work is aimed at the archive. The basement plumbing passed state inspection, and next came vapor barriers and gravel ahead of the concrete pour. The Observatory says the new floors will be polished:

"The concrete floors will be polished, which is imperative in an archive so that no dirt and dust can collect in the pores of the concrete."

The same update says the team chose to core drill through the building's very thick foundation for HVAC exhaust instead of venting through the windows, as the building had done before. They made that call after commissioning a historic compatibility report. The new windows are ready but won't go in until after the concrete is poured, and after that, framers will build walls for a bathroom, kitchen and main office.

The Money Behind It

Local 12 reported on July 7, 2026 that the Observatory was raising $3 million as work got underway on a $2 million renovation project. The station also said completion was expected "sometime next summer." Ohio Magazine's July-August 2026 story says more than $3 million will be invested, including two educational-program positions. In that article, Executive Director Anna Hehman says the renovation "will create opportunities for increased engagement and partnership."

Part of the funding is public money. A release from Ohio House Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey says the state capital budget gave $100,000 to the Cincinnati Observatory Center to finish the basement and office renovation of the 1873 building. The Hyde Park-Oakley Record's September 18 coverage also reported completion expected by summer 2027. Summer 2027 is still a goal, not a firm date. The Observatory says it will post progress on its website and social media.

Until then, the 1845 Mitchel telescope is available on four October evenings, and the next Family Astronomy Night after the sold-out October date is Comets on November 12.

If the October 20 walk down Observatory Place and Avery Lane gets you curious about the houses on the hill, The Megan Stacey Group would be glad to talk through the history and character of homes around the Observatory. Let's talk about your next move. Schedule a free consultation.