Dean's List

Cincinnati Libraries to Loan Telescopes

Cincinnati Observatory Astronomer Dean Regas is partnering with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Libraries to offer the stars to library patrons.  Telescopes may be checked out from certain branch libraries starting this month.

Regas donated 10 telescopes to the libraries so that patrons can borrow them like checking out a book.  “My hope is that people will be inspired by their views through the telescopes and the universe,” Regas said.  

With just your library card you can sign up to reserve a telescope for a three-week period.  The telescopes are small but powerful and can show the craters on the Moon, the planets, and stars and star clusters up close. 

“I wished I had this at my local library growing up,” Regas said.  “Everyone should be able to explore the universe like this with friends and family.”

For more please see: https://cincinnatilibrary.org/services/telescope/

Partial Solar Eclipse 

Thursday June 10

I chased the eclipse in search of clear skies and better views and traveled to Mackinaw City, Michigan.  Luckily the clouds stayed away and I was able to get capture this video of the partially eclipsed Sun just above Lake Huron at sunrise. 

It is so awe inspiring and such an amazing sight to see the Moon block out part of the Sun.  The next solar eclipses visible from the United States will be October 14, 2023 and April 8 2024.  Mark your calendars and don't miss them!

Moon + Venus Conjunction

The slimmest crescent Moon was about 1 degree from the planet Venus on the evening of Wednesday May 12, 2021. And astronomer Dean Regas was there to capture it. The video was taken with a camera phone attached to a small portable telescope.

Happy Birthday Mitchel Telescope!

The Cincinnati Observatory's main telescope turned 175 years old last April 14 and we'd like to look back at how Astronomer Dean Regas gave a virtual tour of the scope last year.  So wish us a happy 176th birthday today!

Mae Among the Stars

Dean reads the children's book about astronaut Mae Jemison and her dream to become an astronaut.  Thank you to the Cincinnati Museum Center for including this in their Story Tree Time program. 

Jupiter and Saturn Come Together

On the nights of December 20, 21, and 22 the largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, appeared closer together in the sky than they have since 1623.  In fact they were so close that you could see the two planets in a telescope at the same time!  

To the right is video captured by Astronomer Dean Regas through the Cincinnati Observatory's 175 year old telescope on December 21.

100 Things to See in the Night Sky

Dean takes you inside his new book, 100 Things to See in the Night Sky, Expanded Edition and then shares his tips to observing the Sun safely and finding a lot of planets, stars, and constellations this week.

“Return of the Moon Joke Episode”

Classic Star Gazers Episode

From February 12-18, 2018

Museum on Tap

With the Cincinnati Museum Center

Dean shares a drink with CMC's Jessica Urban to tell the bizarre tale of the life and unbelievable death of the best naked eye astronomer who ever lived: Tycho Brahe.  It involves kidnapping, a nighttime duel, a fake nose, the construction and ruin of a castle-observatory, exile, deceit, and finally a strange-but-true demise.  It's a whodunnit in the year 1600.