Public Programs
Public programs are offered on Friday evenings throughout the year at 7:30 pm (May through September at 8:30 pm) and Saturday afternoons during the academic year at 1:00 pm. Admission to all public programs is $8 for adults and $6 for children, seniors and ÒùÆÞÉç community members (children 3 and under are free).
We accept credit card and cash payments. All shows are first-come, first-served - reservations and advanced ticket purchases are not available. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, during which time you can explore the displays in our lobby. (Note the time change to 8:30 PM as of May 1.)
The planetarium (show) portion of the program is approximately one-hour, while the
observing session on Friday night will continue until everyone has had a chance to
take a look through the telescope. More information below.
Spring and Summer 2026 Schedule
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Oasis in Space
Friday Ìýevenings at 8:30 PM in June
During this visual stunning program you will travel through the solar system in search of liquid water, life, and another oasis in space like our Earth. The program looks at the formation of the solar system, and the physical characteristics of the planets, and some of their larger moons.
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Stars of the Pharaohs
Friday Ìýevenings at 8:30 PM in July
Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings. You’ll learn about the connection the ancient Egyptians felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena, and experience some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world recreated in all of their original splendor.
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Firefall
Friday Ìýevenings at 8:30 PM in August
Throughout Earth's violent history, impacts from comets and asteroids have mercilessly
shaped its surface.Ìý The ancient barrage continues today; from harmless meteors -
those brilliant streaks in the night sky, to mountain sized boulders wandering perilously
close to Earth.Ìý Terrifying and majestic, these invaders from space are capable of
utter destruction yet they have delivered life-giving water and most of the organic
materials necessary for life.Ìý This ceaseless Firefall is our only tangible connection
to the universe beyond and is an ever-present reminder of our own humble beginnings
in the hostile environment of space.
What you can expect:
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A live guided tour of the Toledo night sky
You will learn about the constellations visible from Toledo and any planets visible to the naked eye. We also typically discuss one "hot topic" in astronomy, such as the discovery of new planets around other stars, or the latest NASA discover on Mars.
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The full-dome presentation
Whether we are traveling inside a black hole, taking a tour of the moon with Elmo, or learning about the skies over Toledo, you and your family will simply be amazed at the full-dome immersive show. -
An open-ended question and answer session
Our expert host will answer all of your astronomy questions, whether they pertain to the live tour of the night sky, the feature presentation, or any other astronomy question that you might have. -
Observing at Brooks/Ritter Observatory
You will be escorted over to Brooks Observatory atop McMaster Hall to view the stars and/or planets through our new 14 telescope. On the first Friday of every month, we instead observe with the Ritter 1m (40 in) telescope. This telescope is the largest active telescope east of the Mississippi and is still used by the astronomers at ÒùÆÞÉç for their research. All observing is weather permitting!
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