Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory

04/28/2025

Two new shows for the month of May! Remember, we switch from a 7:30 start time to an 8:30 start time starting this Friday, May 2. As always, observing afterwards weather permitting.

04/03/2025

Two new shows for the month of April! And remember, this Friday we will use the big 40-inch telescope to look at the sky after the show if the weather is clear.

See ritter.utoledo.edu for more information.

The University of Toledo UToledo College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

03/13/2025

Don't forget to check out the eclipse tonight if you are up late!

03/10/2025

Prepare for the March 13–14 Total Lunar Eclipse

Viewers throughout North America — as well as South America, westernmost Europe and Africa, and New Zealand — will see the Moon darken and turn a reddish hue on the night of March 13–14. “Make sure you don’t miss this disappearing act, for it’s the first total lunar eclipse visible anywhere since November 2022,” says Diana Hannikainen (pronounced HUHN-ih-KY-nen), Editor in Chief at Sky & Telescope. All 50 US states will see this celestial event, which begins after midnight on March 14th in eastern North America but before midnight on the 13th out west. https://ow.ly/AgTH50VeK8G

📷 This sequence shows the end-to-end progression of the total lunar eclipse (starting at lower right) on September 28, 2015. For this event, the Moon passed through the southern half of Earth’s shadow, so during totality the bottom of the Moon looks brighter than the top half. [Sean Walker]

03/02/2025

We've got new shows for March!

02/28/2025

This is going to be a great public talk!

📌Save the Date!

Please join the Ritter Astrophysical Research Center and Department of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Toledo for the 2025 Excellence in Astronomy Talk! 🚀

“The Terrestrial Worlds of Other Stars”

Guest speaker: Dr. David Charbonneau
Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics, Department of Astronomy, Harvard University, Center for Astrophysics l Harvard & Smithsonian

Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 7:15 p.m.
UToledo Main Campus
Wolfe Hall, #1205

David Charbonneau is the Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University. He enjoys working with students and postdoctoral fellows to develop novel methods and instruments for the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars, and studies how the life cycles of the parent stars affect the presence and properties of the atmospheres of any orbiting worlds. He recently co-chaired the National Academies consensus study outlining the national strategy for exoplanet research, including the search for life on planets orbiting other stars. In September 2024, he was awarded The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics from the King of Norway at a ceremony in Oslo.

“This is the second talk in an ‘Excellence in Astronomy’ series focusing on astronomers who, through their vision, persistence and teamwork, have made extraordinary leaps in our understanding of the universe. It builds on our own astronomy program being recognized as an Area of Research Excellence at UToledo,” said Dr. Thomas Megeath, event organizer and Distinguished University Professor.

This is a public lecture, FREE and open to the community, as well as all faculty, staff and students at UToledo! Note: Parking will be free in Areas 12 and 12S from 6:30pm-9pm.

For Dr. Charbonneau’s talk abstract, visit the NSM Events Calendar: bit.ly/4bob5V4

City of Toledo Toledo City Paper The University of Toledo College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo Research & Sponsored Programs The University of Toledo Alumni Association

01/28/2025

Two new shows for the month of February INCLUDING the Toledo premiere of Magic Globe: A Story of the Seasons:

"On vacation at her grandpa’s, a little girl named Mia accidentally discovers a mysterious piece of astronomical machinery. Edmund, Mia’s eccentric uncle, tricks the girl into using the tool’s secret powers to change the world’s seasons. She realizes the consequences of what they are going to do, but Edmund doesn’t want to let the plan go. “Magic Globe” is an engaging story designed to interest and challenge children from 5 to 12 years old."

01/24/2025

It's the last weekend to see these two great show!

01/16/2025

I know it is cold, but go outside and take a look at our solar system! The bright red star in the East? Mars! The bright star almost over head? Jupiter! The bright star in the West? Venus!

Draw a big circle between them and you are looking at the plane in which all the planets orbit the Sun!

01/07/2025

We are back with two new shows for January! Check out ritter.utoledo.edu for more information.

12/19/2024

Your last chance to see Santa's Secret Star is this weekend! Friday at 7:30 PM or Saturday at 1:00 PM.

12/13/2024

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, come out and see our Santa show! Friday at 7:30 PM and Saturday at 1PM. See Ritter.utoledo.edu for more information.

12/02/2024

It is Santa all December long at Ritter Planetarium!

11/14/2024

We've got some great programs this weekend! See ritter.utoledo.edu for more information.