Cincinnati Observatory

Whenever the night skies are clear across the Tri-State, the phone at the Cincinnati Observatory begins ringing nonstop with questions about weird lights in the night sky.

The Cincinnati Observatory is known as the "Birthplace of American Astronomy." The nation's oldest public observatory is celebrating its 175th anniversary this month. On November 9, 1843, on four acres of land on what was then known as Mt. Ida, former president John Quincy Adams presided over the dedication of the observatory and the laying of the cornerstone. Following the event, Mt. Ida was renamed Mt. Adams.

The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight and early tomorrow. With up to 120 meteors per hour shooting across the night sky, it's expected to be one of the best celestial shows of the year.

Astronaut Scott Kelly is the veteran of four spaceflights and served as commander of the International Space Station. He holds the American record for consecutive days spent in space. Now in his recently-released memoir, "Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery," Scott Kelly discusses his experiences living aboard the International Space Station, and how he got there in the first place. 

In a month, Americans will be able to witness something that hasn't happened here in 38 years. The moon will pass between the earth and the sun, casting a shadow across parts of the country. It's such a rare experience, some people will travel to witness it. 

A University of Cincinnati professor is helping NASA plan the next mission to Mars, in search of ancient life. Dr. Andrew Czaja is among a team of scientists determining where on Mars to land the most sophisticated rover to date. Part of the Mars 2020 mission is to collect rock samples for evidence the Red Planet once sustained microbial life.

On July 12 Cincinnati Public Radio introduces a new podcast, "Looking Up," with the Cincinnati Observatory's Dean Regas and Anna Hehman. The first podcast created exclusively by Cincinnati Public Radio separate from its on-air programming, "Looking Up" will cover the latest astronomical discoveries, science and technology, and interesting facts about the stars and planets, all in a fun, down to Earth way.

At a distance of 320 light years from Earth there is a planet in constant daylight, with three suns and seasons longer than a human lifetime. We don’t just know it’s there, we have visual proof.

He has been the outreach astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory since 2000, written dozens of articles about the skies above us and co-hosts the popular public television series Star Gazers. 

If you see "two suspiciously bright lights" in the sky Saturday night, don't be alarmed, you're seeing a very rare astronomical event.

According to the National Science + Math Initiative, only 44 percent of U.S. high school graduates are ready for college-level math and 36 percent are ready for college-level science. 

Last week, the popular public television series Star Gazers celebrated the airing of its 500th episode, highlighting our continued fascination with the wonders and mysteries of outer space.

The Cincinnati Observatory Center was the first public observatory in the Western Hemisphere, and is known as “The Birthplace of American Astronomy.” Today Greater Cincinnati is home to three observatories.

Dean Regas, outreach astronomer from the Cincinnati Observatory, talks about the 150th anniversary of the publication of Jules Verne’s classic From the Earth to the Moon and some local book club events he’ll be taking part in to celebrate this occasion.

  Pluto has fascinated astronomers and science-fiction writers since its discovery in 1930. And today, after traveling nine years and more than three billion miles, the New Horizons space probe is providing us with the our first close-up look at Pluto and its nearest moon, Charon. 

  Former NPR science correspondent, award-winning TV journalist and author Ira Flatow is the host of the the weekly radio show, Science Friday. Dean Regas, outreach astronomer and assistant director with the Cincinnati Observatory, is co-host of the popular PBS series, Star Gazers.

  If you’'ve had enough of looking at the snow, ice and slush, then bundle-up and head outside and look up at the wonders taking place above us, or attend one of the programs offered by the Cincinnati Observatory.