Highland Road Park Observatory

Science Academy: "Weather Forecasting"
2025-03-22 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Highland Road Park Observatory
Cadets have experienced weather their whole lives. Now they’ll experience the basics of how to make a good prediction for what will happen tomorrow–and the next day. [Enrollment in Part I is not a prerequisite. For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]

Retrocomputing
2025-03-21 17:45 - 21:45
This one-time-only open house will showcase the home and work computing of the recent past! [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee. Sky viewing begins at 8:15pm.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 2%, relative humidity 42%, temperature 17C, wind SW 9 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-03-17 11:45 - 14:45
Weather permitting, viewing of the Sun’s image in three different manners (indirectly onto a white surface, directly with safely-filtered optical light and directly in hydrogen-alpha wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Pisces at a maximum altitude of 59°. 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 0%, sky cover 3%, relative humidity 33%, temperature 18C, wind NW 3 km/h

Plus Night: "Pi in the Sky"
2025-03-15 19:00 - 22:00
As the firepit is under construction for upgrading, there will be no marshmallow roast. The planned theme will be supplanted by the rescheduling of a truncated version of “Wonders of the Spring Sky” (from 7pm to 7:30pm).
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. There will also be physical science demonstrations, a marshmallow roast, a sky tour and a game for kids to earn small prizes. During this time the waning gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 15° in Virgo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 12%, relative humidity 75%, temperature 21C, wind SW 13 km/h

Science Academy: "Deep Space Objects II"
2025-03-15 10:00 - 12:00
Double stars, clusters, nebulae…they are all out there. Cadets will continue their investigations of space beyond the Kuiper Belt! [Enrollment in Part I is not a prerequisite. 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 531990.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-03-14 20:30 - 22:00
CANCELLED. NOAA has issued a Tornado Watch for HRPO’s area until 11pm. Also, severe storms are forecast.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waning gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 26° in Virgo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 31%, sky cover 89%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 24C, wind S 18 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Wonders of the Spring Sky"
2025-03-14 19:30 - 20:30
POSTPONED UNTIL 15 MARCH. Amy Northrop will give a truncated version of this talk during Plus Night.
BREC Education Program Specialist Amy Northrop takes the audience on a fascinating tour of Baton Rouge’s upcoming spring season. She’ll highlight the gems that will sparkle throughout those three months–gems visitors will be able to see live if they continue to visit HRPO! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Total Lunar Eclipse
2025-03-13 23:00 - 2025-03-14 05:00
NOAA predicts patchy fog between 12am and 7am. Do not visit HRPO if the driving route goes through fog. HRPO will close by at least 2:30am.
While crossing from Leo into Virgo, our Moon will enter Earth’s shadows. There are a variety of shadings the Moon’s surface can have. This is dependent on the state of the Earth’s atmosphere. Join us if you can. This will be the last total lunar eclipse seen in its entirety from the Baton Rouge area for a long time! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
CLARIFICATION: This event begins late on Thursday night and ends early on Friday morning.
NOAA Forecast for 11pm to 2am (Fair): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 55%, relative humidity 91%, temperature 19C, wind S 9 km/h
NOAA Forecast for 2am to 5am (Poor): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 88%, relative humidity 94%, temperature 18C, wind S 8 km/h

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-03-10 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-10 19:00 - 21:00
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.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-03-08 19:30 - 22:00
CANCELLED. HRPO will close at 9pm (earlier if it rains).
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 87° in Gemini. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 34%, sky cover 84%, relative humidity 91%, temperature 21C, wind SE 9 km/h

Mercurian Elongation
2025-03-08 17:45 - 19:15
CANCELLED
Periodically, Mercury reaches its greatest angular separation in the sky (elongation) from the Sun. This is the safest way for amateurs to view Mercury. Come join us at the Burbank Soccer Complex! The planet will appear as a “half-Mercury”. The waxing gibbous Moon, Mars, Venus and Jupiter will also be seen. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 64%, sky cover 86%, relative humidity 86%, temperature 23C, wind SE 10 km/h

Science Academy: "The Vanguard Spacecraft"
2025-03-08 10:00 - 12:00
The three craft with this name are some of the oldest manmade objects still orbiting the Earth! Want to hear the story? Cadets will! [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 531990.

The Edge of Night
2025-03-07 17:30 - 19:30
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.]
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 4%, sky cover 62%, relative humidity 71%, temperature 23C, wind S 11 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-03-01 19:30 - 22:00
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 8° in Pisces. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 1%, relative humidity 56%, temperature 17C, wind N 10 km/h

Science Academy: "Mercury"
2025-03-01 10:00 - 12:00
The fastest planet will be investigated by the Cadets. [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 531990.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-28 20:30 - 22:00
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing 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 (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 18%, relative humidity 61%, temperature 15C, wind SW 3 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Dawn Mission"
2025-02-28 19:30 - 20:30
In March 2015, Dawn became the first spacecraft to orbit two individual bodies. Amy Northrop provides a fresh look at this incredible accomplishment. [Postponed from 24 January. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-22 19:30 - 22:00
CANCELLED. HRPO will close by at least 9pm.
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 (Bad): precipitation potential 38%, sky cover 87%, relative humidity 72%, temperature 9C, wind N 3 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Physics"
2025-02-22 14:30 - 18:30
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 531993. Deadline for online registration is 6pm the day (Friday) before.]

Solar Viewing
2025-02-22 12:00 - 14:00
HRPO will close at 1:30pm.
Weather permitting, viewing of the Sun’s image in three different manners (indirectly onto a white surface, directly with safely-filtered optical light and directly in hydrogen-alpha wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Aquarius at a maximum altitude of 50°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 25%, sky cover 77%, relative humidity 56%, temperature 9C, wind NE 4 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-21 20:30 - 22:00
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 0%, sky cover 67%, relative humidity 48%, temperature 6C, wind NE 3 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Asteroids"
2025-02-21 19:30 - 20:30
Remnants of our Solar System’s early existence are still with us. Over one million of them orbit the Sun–and some pass dangerously close to the Earth. Some can be seen unaided-eye and some have been visited by spacecraft. From Ceres to Apophis, an understanding of what role these objects play in our lives is more important than ever. [Postponed from 24 January. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Plus Night: "Love in the Ether"
2025-02-15 19:00 - 22:00
CANCELLED. NOAA has issued a Wind Advisory until 12am.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. There will also be physical science demonstrations, a marshmallow roast, a sky tour and a game for kids to earn small prizes. During this time the waning gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 13° in Virgo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 66%, sky cover 84%, relative humidity 85%, temperature 23C, wind S 25 km/h

Science Academy: "Deep Space Objects I"
2025-02-15 10:00 - 12:00
Double stars, clusters, nebulae…they are all out there. Cadets will learn what they are, from where they hail and how to search for them! [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 531990.

A Celestial Romance
2025-02-14 18:00 - 22:00
CANCELLED. (Large pieces of work equipment in HRPO front parking lot. Patrons are discouraged from visiting at this time. HRPO will close at 8pm.)
Take an enthralling look at the true “affair of the heart” each skygazer has with our sky this night: satellite, maybe an asteroid, planets, stars and clusters–and the Moon joins us halfway through the event! [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 7%, sky cover 80%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 15C, wind E 12 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-02-13 11:15 - 13:15
Weather permitting, viewing of the Sun’s image in three different manners (indirectly onto a white surface, directly with safely-filtered optical light and directly in hydrogen-alpha wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Capricornus at a maximum altitude of 47°. 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 (Fair): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 65%, relative humidity 79%, temperature 12C, wind N 16 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-08 19:30 - 22:00
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 88° in Gemini. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 7%, relative humidity 86%, temperature 22C, wind SW 9 km/h

Science Academy: "ISS Expedition 9"
2025-02-08 10:00 - 12:00
The International Space Station is one of the greatest engineering feats in human history. From April 2004 to October 2004 Gennady Padalka and Mike Fincke 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 531990.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-07 20:30 - 21:30
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 88° in Taurus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 8%, relative humidity 87%, temperature 21C, wind SW 5 km/h
