Thursday, August 27, will be a big night for stargazers in the Cincinnati area.
The Cincinnati Observatory kicks off the evening with its monthly Pop-Up Planetarium at MadTree Brewing in Oakley, then opens its doors on Mt. Lookout for a free public telescope viewing of a deep partial lunar eclipse, one of the most striking sky events of the year.
Weather permitting, guests will have the chance to watch the Moon slide into Earth’s shadow and take on a deep red “blood Moon” hue through the Observatory’s historic telescope.
The viewing runs from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at the Cincinnati Observatory. No registration is required, and a suggested donation of $5 per person helps support the Observatory’s mission.
What to expect
Although classified as a partial eclipse, this is an unusually deep one: at its peak, roughly 96% of the Moon’s surface will pass through the umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, leaving only a thin bright sliver untouched. That makes it the most dramatic lunar eclipse visible from the Cincinnati area until 2029.
• 10:33 p.m. — The visible portion of the eclipse begins as the Moon enters Earth’s umbral shadow, appearing as a growing dark “bite” taken out of the full Moon.
• 12:12 a.m. (Aug. 28) — The eclipse reaches its peak, with about 96% of the Moon’s disk immersed in shadow. The eclipsed portion will glow a deep red or copper color, an effect commonly nicknamed a “blood Moon,” caused by sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere and bending onto the lunar surface.
No special equipment is needed to watch a lunar eclipse — it’s completely safe to view with the naked eye. But observatory staff and volunteers will have telescopes trained on the Moon throughout the evening, offering close-up views of the eclipse in progress.
“Partial lunar eclipses happen fairly often, but this one is special — it’s about as close to total as you can get without crossing the line,” said Dr. Wes Ryle, outreach astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory. “For a few hours, we’ll watch the Moon change color right in front of us. It’s one of those events where you don’t need a telescope to be amazed, but we’ll have several pointed at the Moon anyway so people can really soak it in.”
This event is weather-dependent and will only proceed under clear skies. Guests are encouraged to check the Observatory’s website and social media channels on the day of the event for up-to-date weather calls.
Make a Night of It: Pop-Up Planetarium at MadTree Beforehand
Stargazers looking to make a full night of it can kick things off earlier that evening at the Observatory’s Pop-Up Planetarium at MadTree Brewing (Oakley), running from 6-9 p.m. The family-friendly event features shows inside an inflatable planetarium, hands-on celestial crafts for kids, and a special exhibition of photographs chosen for the Observatory’s 2027 calendar, available for purchase on-site. The evening wraps up with Drunk Astronomy, an adults-focused cosmic Q&A with Dr. Wes Ryle. Tickets are $10 per person or $30 per family (children under 4 free), and walk-ins are welcome.
Founded in 1842 by astronomer Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel, the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest professional observatory in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. Home to the historic 1845 Merz and Mahler refractor — the oldest professional telescope in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere — the Observatory offers year-round public stargazing, classes, and special events for all ages. Learn more at cincinnatiobservatory.org.
Cincinnati Observatory