Public and Family Nights
Events last 1-2 hours
MCAO members and the public are invited to visit the Observatory on specific Monday evenings at 8PM for Public Nights. These nights can be located on our events calendar. Programs include interactive lectures on astronomy and the opportunity to view the planets, moon and other objects through the telescope, weather permitting. Planetarium programs will be held if the skies are cloudy. Due to limited parking and seating at the observatory, admission is by reservation only and limited to 28 guests. Public Night attendance is limited to adults and students 5th grade and above. If you are interested in making a reservation, you can click on the word Events on the above tabs and it will take you to our calendar. Additionally, you can contact us using the Contact Form or call 302-654-6407 between the hours of 9 am and 1 pm Monday through Friday. You will receive a confirmation email when your spot is reserved. Please be aware that any emails or phone calls received after 1PM on the day of an event, will not receive reservations. Public nights will be presented even if the weather does not permit observation through the telescope. The admission fees are $10 for adults and $5 for children. There is no admission fee for MCAO members, but reservations are still required. If you are interested in becoming a MCAO member, please visit the Join page.
Family Nights are scheduled throughout the year on specific Friday nights at 8:00PM. These programs are opportunities for people to learn about astronomy by looking at and enjoying the sky and its wonders. Reservations via the Contact Form or via phone are required. Admission fees are $10 for adults and $5 for children. You will receive a confirmation email when your spot is reserved. Please be aware that any emails or phone calls received after 1PM on the day of an event or over the weekend, will not receive reservations.
*Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions as the observations are outdoors. Clear skies will result in chilly to cold conditions even during the warmer months.
Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory
A note to our visitors, schools and member families
Dear Friends of Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory,
The Board of Trustees has adopted a new policy concerning the age of children attending programs at the Observatory.
Children under the age of eight will not be received at the Observatory in organized groups — school field trips, scout troops and similar visits. On Family Nights, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, with a minimum age of eight.
The Observatory is a working scientific facility. Moving between the domes means crossing a rooftop, there are a great many stairs, and much of what we do takes place in a room kept deliberately dark. The building was not laid out with very young children in mind, and our presentations are written for older children. The Board’s concern is that every visitor can be properly supervised.
We do not want this to be the end of our work with younger children. Where a group falls below the age limit, the Observatory may offer to send a representative to your school or organization to present a program at your own location instead. Please contact us and we will do our best to arrange it.
We are grateful for your understanding, and for your continued support of the Observatory.
Board of Trustees
Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory