Established 1842, Birth Place of American Astronomy and
Home to the oldest telescope in the Western Hemisphere in use nightly by the general public.
Birth Place of American Astronomy Former observatory director and COC Historian, Mr. John Ventre Tour director Mr. John Ventre Astronomer Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel, founder of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society in 1842 Original Charter & Constitution for the Cincinnati Astronomical Society founded in 1842 Educational Outreach & Group Presentations Ohio Historical Marker presented in 2002 National Historic Landmark 1997 Original Observatory, then a Monastery. Added a 3rd story but the bottom floors were the Observatory First America professional astronomical observatory atop Mt. Adams 1884 The Herget Building COC Director 1843 to 1943 Longitudinal Section, The Herget Building First Floor, The Herget Building The Herget Building The Herget Building Left Front The Herget Building Left Side The Herget Building Left Rear The Herget Building Right Rear The Herget Building Right Front The Herget Building Entrance, The Herget Building LOBBY, The Herget Building Mosler Lock & Safe Mosler Lock & Safe Company History Period desk displays educational material Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel Memorial Exhibit Isolated from the building structure, the telescope support column rest on bedrock Library for astronomical journals available for public review Library for astronomical journals available for public review COC produced a 2010, 16 month Calendar with pictures taken by COC personnel Used for education and available for public rental West Wing of the Observatory when it was used to document star positions along the Meridian. Same as previous but with newer, bigger meridian scope 1845 Merz & Mahler 11" Refractor. Oldest professional telescope in the Western Hemisphere still in use Old glass-plate slide projector. Still works. Porter Garden Telescope Chronograph, a manual weight driven time recording instrument. The Analemma Symbol Riefler Pendulum Clock, sealed glass cylinder, double-walled temperature controlled vault. About 1904 One of four observatory standard time clocks. This one is "Sidereal Time" Numerals are inlaid with black wax A second observatory standard time clock. Chronograph, a manual weight driven time recording instrument. Functional, but needs restoring. Hallicrafters Model S-38 Communication Receiver used to communicate among USA observatories. Home to the world's oldest telescope still in use nightly by the general public Alvan Clark & Sons 16" Refractor - 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16" Refractor - 1904 Movement Mechanism for the Alvan Clark 16" Refractor - 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16" Refractor - 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16" Refractor - 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16" Refractor - 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16" Refractor - 1904 Accurate restoration detail in every aspect or their work O. M. Mitchel Building O. M. Mitchel Building Left Side O. M. Mitchel Building Rear O. M. Mitchel Building Right side O. M. Mitchel Building 11" Merz and Mahler telescope built in Munich Germany, 1843 11" Merz and Mahler telescope built in Munich Germany, 1843 11" Merz and Mahler telescope built in Munich Germany, 1843 11" Merz and Mahler telescope built in Munich Germany, 1843 Period Desk Period chairs from the old observatory Looking North East Lunch at FirstWatch