Winter 2025: McCormick Observatory Public Nights

Winter 2024-25: Ongoing construction will impact the operations of the McCormick Observatory. Starting June 2024, 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.

The University of Virginia expects parents or guardians to provide supervision over minors on University property during this event. Parents or guardians should not leave minors unsupervised on University property.

Host or Publisher UVA Department of Astronomy