Summer 2024: McCormick Observatory Public Nights
Tour the McCormick Observatory and look through our historic telescope!
Select date and time
Location
Leander McCormick Observatory
600 McCormick Road Charlottesville, VA 22904About this event
Summer 2024: Ongoing construction will impact the operations of the McCormick Observatory. Starting June, we can only host 25 guests per hour, a total of 50 guests per night. Please use this event page to reserve space over the summer.
In an effort to welcome as many guests as possible, groups are limited to 4 people. Larger groups can be accommodated in the fall.
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Welcome to the Leander McCormick Observatory!
Visitors can view celestial objects through the historic 26-inch McCormick Refractor and other smaller telescopes (weather permitting), tour the Observatory, hear a presentation by an astronomer, and see the exhibits. All faculty, postdocs and graduate students participate through a rotating schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Construction over the summer has closed an entrance to our building. This leaves the observatory with only one functioning entrance/exit. To comply with fire safety codes, our maximum capacity has been limited.
Yes. There is a private road that leads to the observatory, which is available for vehicle parking. We ask that you park perpendicular to the road to maximize space for all guests. You do not need a parking pass.
No. The clear bag policy only applies to large-scale events hosted by the University like sporting events, graduation, concerts, etc.
Yes! The content of the lecture will be accessible to all ages and levels of astronomical expertise. Kids under 4 do not need a registration.
Any current undergraduate, graduate, law, or nursing student does NOT need to register to attend. You may bring one non-student guest. However, if you plan to bring a large group like a club or dorm, please contact us first.
Due to the summer construction, we cannot host large groups. We hope to resume normal operations in the fall.
In the event of cloudy or rainy weather, we hold our public night's rainy program. This includes a slightly longer lecture from the astronomer and time to explore the dome room and museum. While you can't look through the telescope, you still get to learn about our facilities and history.
We only cancel public nights in the event of inclement weather. This includes threats of or active severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, ice, and heavy snow. Cancelled visits will be communicated via email up to an hour before entry time.
Please follow the directions outlined here: https://www.eventbrite.com/support/articles/en_US/How_To/how-to-cancel-your-free-registration
The Observatory is closed to the public on non-public nights. Accessing the grounds after dark is considered trespassing; the area is monitored by video surveillance and the observatory caretaker. If you have a special request, please call the Astronomy Department to speak with our staff.
You may select one of two timeslots. Each one is the same in content and experience. Please do not select both timeslots.