Highland Road Park Observatory

Science Academy: "ISS Expedition 10"
2025-05-10 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Highland Road Park Observatory
The International Space Station is one of the greatest engineering feats in human history. From October 2004 to April 2005, Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov conducted experiments and did what few have done-–lived off the Earth. Cadets will build on the circuit board and sample the astronauts’ menu! [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]
To register, go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 131320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-10 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The 20OGS dome is undergoing repairs. Viewing will take place on the front pad.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 37° in Virgo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 10%, sky cover 61%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 19C, wind NW 11 km/h

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-05-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-06-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
For over four decades the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society has educated countless numbers of citizens in the joys of planetary and deep-sky gazing, and factors to consider when buying a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Over the years BRAS members have constructed their own telescopes and photographic platforms; imaged comets; earned observing certificates; and discovered asteroids. Anyone interested in learning more about BRAS is invited to attend. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Solar Viewing
2025-05-14 11:30 - 14:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Weather permitting, viewing of the Sun’s image in four different manners (indirectly onto a white surface, directly with safely-filtered optical light, directly in hydrogen-alpha wavelength and directly in calcium-K wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Taurus at a maximum altitude of 78°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended.
This special session of solar viewing is programmed due to the predicted increase in solar activity due to Solar Cycle 25. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 4%, sky cover 5%, relative humidity 61%, temperature 239, wind SW 23 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Mt. St. Helens"
2025-05-16 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
In March 1980, this volcano erupted for the first time in over 100 years, killing over fifty people and shocking the country. Education Program Specialist Amy Northrop recounts the amazing story. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-16 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The 20OGS dome is undergoing repairs. Viewing will take place on the front pad.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waning gibbous Moon will be below the horizon. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 48%, relative humidity 78%, temperature 28C, wind S 11 km/h

Science Academy: "Observing the Universe (Eyes)"
2025-05-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Cadets will discover the majestic objects that can be spied in a natural sky without any equipment. [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]
To register, go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 131320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-17 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The 20OGS dome is undergoing repairs. Viewing will take place on the front pad. HRPO will close at 9:45pm.
Sunset, 7:52pm CDT. Twilight Ends, 9:25pm CDT.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waning gibbous Moon will be below the horizon. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 2%, sky cover 22%, relative humidity 72%, temperature 29C, heat index 32C, wind S 9 km/h

The Future of the Observatory
2025-05-23 17:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
HRPO will open at 6:15pm. The majority of this program’s information and will take place (weather permitting) during the weekend’s two Evening Sky Viewing sessions.
Sunset, 7:56pm CDT.
In a little over 900 days, HRPO will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary. This meet-and-greet (a tradition in late May) will allow a networking of involved patrons–and those who want to get involved. Several displays will premiere. [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee. Refreshments.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 32%, sky cover 46%, relative humidity 76%, temperature 28C, heat index 31C, wind S 8 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-23 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
This program is dependent upon the rain and thunder having left the HRPO area.
Twilight Ends, 9:31pm CDT.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waning crescent Moon will be below the horizon. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 46%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 26C, wind SE 3 km/h

Science Academy: "In-House Physics"
2025-05-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The Newtonian world exists before our eyes. With equipment, controls and goals–Cadets will a run a gauntlet of one-off demonstrations. [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]
To register, go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 131320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-24 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waning crescent Moon will be below the horizon. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Sunset, 7:57pm CDT. Twilight Ends, 9:31pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 26%, relative humidity 76%, temperature 28C, heat index 31C, wind S 8 km/h

Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club Meeting
2025-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
For over eighty-five years the Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club has introduced the local area to the Amateur Radio Service and all its benefits. During this meeting officers and members will finalize plans for the ARRL Field Day at the end of June. To participate in this meeting, please follow the instructions at https://brarc.org. [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-30 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Due to sporadic internet outages, tonight’s lecture (“The Place Called Outer Space”) is postponed until 11 July.
Sunset, 8:00pm CDT
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing crescent Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 41° in Cancer. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 9:36pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 9%, sky cover 94%, relative humidity 87%, temperature 25C, wind N 5 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Engineering I"
2025-05-31 14:30 - 18:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
This program offers advanced topics, activity extensions and all-new games and demonstrations to older youth. Certificates are earned and archived as well as modern experiments take place. There are also giveaways and door prizes. [For ages twelve to sixteen. $15 per EBR parish registrant; $18 per other-parish registrant. Register via WebTrac; use activity number 131321. Deadline for online registration is 6pm the day (Friday) before.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-31 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The 20OGS dome is undergoing repairs. Viewing will take place on the front pad beginning at 8pm.
Sunset, 8:01pm CDT.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing crescent Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 63° in Cancer. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 9:37pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 25%, relative humidity 66%, temperature 26C, wind NW 3 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-06-06 21:30 - 23:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 8:04pm CDT.
The 20OGS dome is undergoing repairs. Viewing will take place on the front pad from 9pm to 10:15pm.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 45° in Virgo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 9:41pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 13%, relative humidity 75%, temperature 29C, heat index 33C, wind SW 10 km/h

Science Academy: "Observing the Universe (Binoculars)"
2025-06-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Cadets will discover the majestic objects that can be spied in a natural sky with only a binocular. [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet. The first “Observing the Universe” is not a prerequisite.]
To register, go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 231320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-06-07 20:30 - 23:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 8:04pm CDT.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 39° in Libra. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 7%, relative humidity 80%, temperature 28C, heat index 33C, wind SW 11 km/h
Twilight Ends, 9:42pm CDT.

Solar Viewing
2025-06-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Weather permitting, viewing of the Sun’s image in four different manners (indirectly onto a white surface, directly with safely-filtered optical light, directly in hydrogen-alpha wavelength and directly in calcium-K wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Taurus at a maximum altitude of 74°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended.
This special session of solar viewing is programmed due to the predicted increase in solar activity due to Solar Cycle 25. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 30%, sky cover 43%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 29C, heat index 35C, wind S 9 km/h

Science Academy: "Names and Catalogs"
2025-06-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Can one name a star? Are there enough names in our cultures to label all stars? How do catalogs act as address books for some of the most lovely objects in the sky that Cadets could find? [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]
To register, go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 231320.

The Daylight Detour
2025-06-20 17:30 - 19:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
NOAA has issued a Heat Advisory until 7pm.
Whether it’s taking advantage of a prorated BRAS membership; getting the status of all current NASA, LSU and HRPO plans; obtaining the latest information on asteroid Apophis; learning HRPO history or taking stock of which celestial events are on their way–this “alternate route” (planned due to Daylight Time) is on your stop! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 24%, sky cover 35%, relative humidity 70%, temperature 31C, heat index 38C, wind SW 5 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Wonders of the Summer Sky"
2025-06-20 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The temperature rises as summer’s constellations settle high overhead early in the night. BREC Education Program Specialist Amy Northrop takes the audience on a fascinating tour of Baton Rouge’s upcoming season. She highlights the celestial gems that will sparkle throughout the next three months–-gems that visitors will be able to view live! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

STEM Expansion: "Engineering II"
2025-06-21 14:30 - 18:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
This program offers advanced topics, activity extensions and all-new games and demonstrations to older youth. Certificates are earned and archived as well as modern experiments take place. There are also giveaways and door prizes. [For ages twelve to sixteen. $15 per EBR parish registrant; $18 per other-parish registrant. Register via WebTrac; use activity number 131322. Registration in Part I is not a prerequisite. Deadline for online registration is 6pm the day (Friday) before.]

American Radio Relay League Field Day
2025-06-28 14:00 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The ARRL Field Day program is not affected by rain.
One section of the electromagnetic spectrum gets all the love, as tens of thousands of “hams” ascend to the radio waves with “phone” (voice) and CW (Morse) in this exciting contest that stretches from coast to coast! Get on the GOTA station and make your own contact! Ham radio is awesome for parents and kids alike. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast for 2pm to 6pm (Bad): precipitation potential 51%, sky cover 42%, relative humidity 68%, temperature 32C, heat index 38C, wind SE 9 km/h
NOAA Forecast for 6pm to 10pm (Fair): precipitation potential 18%, sky cover 44%, relative humidity 80%, temperature 28C, heat index 33C, wind S 7 km/h

The Edge of Night
2025-07-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Burbank Soccer Complex, 12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Personnel will attempt viewing at the Burbank Soccer Complex for at least forty-five minutes.
It’s not light. It’s not dark. It’s that special time called twilight and HRPO wants to introduce you to it! Are all sections of the sky the same shade of blue? Which stars are seen first? Are Mercury and Venus or the Moon out? Is that moving object a plane, a weather balloon, a satellite or debris in outer space? How much actual darkness should be expected in cities of a certain population? There is no other time like twilight. Bring it into your life! [For ages six and older. No admission fee. A change of venue occurred for this event since an elongation of Mercury will take place simultaneously!]
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 7%, sky cover 65%, relative humidity 66%, temperature 32C, heat index 37C, wind NW 3 km/h

Science Academy: "Meteor Showers"
2025-07-05 08:00 - 17:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Only in natural or near-natural skies can one see the dimmest streaks of a shower. Cadets will learn how showers originate and how to perpetuate for years the awesome scenic beauty of a shower event. [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]
To register, go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 231320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-07-05 20:30 - 23:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 8:10pm CDT.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 37° in Libra. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 2%, sky cover 12%, relative humidity 74%, temperature 29C, heat index 32C, wind S 1 km/h
Twilight Ends, 9:47pm CDT.

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Place Called Outer Space"
2025-07-11 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Only one hour away if you could drive straight up–the intrigue of space began thousands of years ago, reached a golden age in the century span prior to this year and could have a platinum age depending on what choices we make on these coming nights…. [Postponed from 30 May. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]
