Mueller Observatory of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Dr., University Circle
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
(216) 231-4600
Email: csimpson@cmnh.org
Since December 7, 1960, the Ralph Mueller Observatory has brought the wonders of the night sky into view for hundreds of thousands of people. The observatory houses a 10 1/2-inch refracting telescope built by the Warner and Swasey Co. of Cleveland in 1899. The renowned J.A. Brashear Company of Pittsburgh, Penn., made the telescope’s optics. Warner and Swasey originally donated the telescope to Western Reserve University (today Case Western Reserve University). A gift from Museum trustee Ralph Mueller allowed the addition of an observatory. The observatory is open to the public on clear Wednesday evenings from September through the end of May from 8:30 to 11 pm. Visitors are asked to arrive before 10 pm and dress for the weather. A planetarium program is presented on cloudy evenings.
When the Museum opened the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium on January 15, 2002, a wonderful new resource was added for astronomy education in Northeast Ohio. The state-of-the-art facility, designed by Cleveland architectural and engineering firm Westlake Reed Leskosky, offers audiences unparalleled opportunities to learn about the universe.
CMNH Photo
Observatories of Ohio 
Hi there. I recently have been to the natural history museum and learned that the observatory does cool things at night where you can look through the telescope! I was wondering when this takes place I would love to experience it! And the gentlman that does the planetarium and observatory is a blast!! Thank you,
Rachel
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Mueller Observatory is open clear Wed. evenings from Sept. through May, 8:30-11:00 pm, according to astronomer Clyde Simpson.