Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.

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The planetarium projectors have been fixed but we will not be able to accommodate the usual full schedule of private shows this summer. We are offering FREE public shows regularly to compensate for this. Details are posted under EVENTS!

As the outreach arm of the Department of Astronomy, we are not a full-fledged or staffed science center. We do our best to meet all requests. We offer public shows based on staffing availability. The Planetarium at COSI is open for public programs. Solstice Outreach is available for privately scheduled shows in their portable planetarium dome. The SciDome at The Works Museum is also open.

Upcoming Events

Space
October 23, 2025

Exoplanet Show - October 23, 2025

Event Start Time: 7:00 pm
Event Location: Arne Slettebak Planetarium Smith 5033
WestFest logo
October 25, 2025

WestFest 2025

Event Start Time: 11:00 am
Event Location: West Campus Quad near Byrd Polar
Star party at sunset
October 29, 2025

Star Party at Bexley Library

Event Start Time: 7:00 pm
Event Location: Bexley Public Library - 2411 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43209
Star party at sunset
October 31, 2025

Spooktacular Star Party - October 31, 2025

Event Start Time: 6:30 pm
Event Location: Smith Lab Observing Deck via the Arne Slettebak Planetarium (Smith 5033)

Recent News

Zodiacal Light and Venus

What's Up? - Ohio Skylights October 2025

By Sophie Olsen

Happy October! I hope everyone’s been having a good start to the autumn semester. We’ll be starting the month off with sunrise at 7:28am and sunset at 7:13pm. We will continue to lose…

Ocean Cemetery in the Planetarium

MFA Students' Fulldome Film Selected for International Screening in Czech Republic

First-year MFA students Yeoleum Choi and Valeska Tan’s immersive full-dome film Ocean Cemetery was selected for screening at the 2025 Fulldome Festival Brno, held June 10–12, 2025 in the Czech…

Image from Sunset on Mount Lemmon, Arizona

What's Up? - Ohio Skylights July 2025

Constellations and Astronomical Events-- July 2025!

Happy July everyone-- I hope we all made it through the heat of June. We’re kicking off the month with sunrise at 6:07am and sunset at 9:04pm. We…

Aurora Borealis over Alaska

What's Up? - Ohio Skylights June 2025

Constellations and Astronomical Events Visible in June 2025!

People Directory

Outreach Specialist, Astronomy on Tap