OUTREACH
Besides conducting world-class research, the faculty, students, and staff of the Ritter Astrophysical Research Center actively engage in outreach to the greater Toledo community.
Ritter PLANETARIUM
The Ritter Planetarium, which is located on the ground floor of the building, is the
primary resource through which we interact with the public. Nearly 15,000 people walk
through the doors of the Ritter Planetarium each year. Director Mike Cushing and Associate
Director Alex Mak regularly appear on local news or in the Blade discussing current
events ranging from the first close-up images of Pluto to the 2020 conjunction of
Jupiter and Saturn. The planetarium offers programs designed specifically for K-12
school children, Scout groups, and private groups, and is also open on the weekends
for public programs and observing with Brooks Observatory or Ritter Observatory.
SOCIETY OF PHYSICS STUDENTS
The Society of Physics Students is open to anyone with an interest in Physics and/or
Astronomy. The society provides enrichment activities for its members including trips
to national labs and neighboring universities. It has a speaker series which aims
to connect students and professors and hosts frequent social events for its members.
They also bring science to the greater Toledo community through our outreach program.
CEDAR POINT
Within the community we regularly give presentations at local schools and community
organizations (the Kiwanis club, the Toledo Astronomical Association), and even at
Cedar Point amusement park. Each year physics and astronomy graduate students attend
the Physics, Science, and Math Day at Cedar Point where they teach K-12 students the
basic laws of physics through demonstrations.