Conference FAQs
What are the dates of the conference?
August 12-15 2026 with the afterparty being held on Sunday August 16th.
Where is the conference being held?
At the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, which is in Covington Kentucky, right across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Other events such as the StarBQ, happy hours and tours are occurring at locations outside the Marriott.
What is this afterparty on Sunday?
The afterparty is being hosted by Susan and Dieter Moeller of The Moeller Observatory, and the Cincinnati Astronomical Society on Sunday August 16th at The Moeller Observatory in Adams County Ohio, which is about 90 minutes East of Cincinnati. This afterparty is not technically part of ALCON, but you must be an attendee of the ALCON to have an opportunity to claim a ticket to this party.
The afterparty runs from 2PM to midnight, which means those planning to stay into the evening will need hotel accomodations Sunday night.
More details on the afterparty HERE
Where can I stay overnight Sunday if I am attending the afterparty?
If you have your own transportation, you are permitted to camp on the grounds overnight at The Moeller Obsevatory. There are a number of B&Bs in the area, and some hotels in nearby Maysville Kentucky. Otherwise you’ll need to drive back toward Cincinnati for overnight accommodations.
Is CAS or the AL arranging for overnight accommodations for the afterparty?
No, it is up to each attendee to arrange for their own lodging for Sunday night. the ALCON 2026 planning committee is happy to make recommendations if attendees request. We will be putting some information on this website about area lodging in the next few weeks once we have all of it gathered.
How much does the afterparty cost?
Admission to The Moeller Observatory afterparty is free, including food, beverages and entertainment. The only cost associated is if attendees want to purchase transportation to and from the party via tour bus.
More details on the afterparty HERE
How do I get the special room rate at the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter?
A link to book your rooms at the discounted rate will be emailed to you once you complete the registration process.
Are there any discounts?
We are offering a discounted spouse/child admission rate for people who want to bring their family members along. This rate only applies to members of the same household.
We are also offering a weekend admission for those who can only attend Friday night and Saturday all day.
Who is hosting the conference?
The Cincinnati Astronomical Society (CAS) is this year’s host Society, working in conjunction with The Astronomical League.
Will there be any events at the CAS headquarters?
No, our headquarters is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Cincinnati and only holds about 70 people.
Will there be any observing events during the conference?
Since this is in an urban setting, we will not be having any observing events, although for those opting to attend the tour at The Cincinnati Observatory on Friday they will be offering solar viewing through the Merz & Mahler refractor. There will be signficiant observing opportunities however for those attending the afterparty at The Moeller Observatory (weather permitting of course). The Moeller Observatory is in a Bortle 4-5 area with clear views of the Milky Way, and it’s just a few days after the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
What are some of the local amenities we may take advantage of while staying at the Marriott?
We are assembling a list of restaurants, bars, shopping, and attractions people may want to take advantage of during or in the days leading up to the conference. This list will be published on the conference website as well is in the printed ALCON program.
What is the parking situation at the Marriott?
Info to come.
We are flying into Cincinnati, what are the transportation options and how far is the Marriott from the airport?
Unfortunately The Marriott does not have an airport shuttle, so taxi or Uber/Lyft are going to be your best options. The estimated Uber/Lyft price from the airport to the Marriott is about $25 - $35.