Solar Viewing
2025-03-17 11:45 - 14:45 (America/Chicago) | Highland Road Park Observatory
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

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

Science Academy: "Weather Forecasting"
2025-03-22 10:00 - 12:00
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.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-03-22 19:30 - 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 (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 7%, relative humidity 64%, temperature 21C, wind S 10 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Protecting the Power Grid"
2025-03-28 19:30 - 20:30
There are several different ways entire sections of our nation’s Grid can be damaged or destroyed. It’s happened before–at least on a small scale. What about a large-scale event? Many believe it’s a matter of when, not if. Are we prepared? BREC Center Supervisor James DeOliveira is happy to report that we’re probably more prepared than we were a decade ago. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-03-28 19:30 - 22:00
CANCELLED. HRPO will close at 9:15pm (earlier if it rains).
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the New 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 53%, sky cover 73%, relative humidity 83%, temperature 22C, wind SE 16 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-03-29 11:30 - 14:30
CANCELLED. HRPO will not open.
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 63°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 76%, sky cover 79%, relative humidity 87%, temperature 24C, wind S 16 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Astrophysics"
2025-03-29 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.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-03-29 19:30 - 22:00
CANCELLED. NOAA has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the HRPO area until 9:30pm. HRPO will not open to the public.
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 5° in Pisces. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 24%, sky cover 82%, relative humidity 88%, temperature 23C, wind S 10 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Bayou Blizzard"
2025-04-04 19:30 - 20:30
The winter storm that arrived in January was a truly unique weather event for Louisiana. Never before had our state experienced record snow and record cold in such a singular event. Kyle Brehe of the Louisiana State Office of Climatology will explain how the Bayou Blizzard of January was one for the ages! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-04-04 20:30 - 22:00
The 20OGS will be closed.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the First Quarter Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 74° in Gemini. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor: precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 86%, relative humidity 82%, temperature 26C, wind SE 23 km/h

Science Academy: "Clouds"
2025-04-05 10:00 - 12:00
They bring storms and herald winds, but they also add nuance to a view of the Moon and assist in creating atmospheric phenomena. Cadets know–clouds are our friends! [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-04-05 19:30 - 22:00
The 20OGS will be closed.
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 85° in Cancer. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 13%, sky cover 85%, relative humidity 82%, temperature 26C, wind S 23 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Apollo 13"
2025-04-11 19:30 - 20:30
“Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” That chilling statement was transmitted through space from the brave crew to Mission Control. It soon became clear to Commander James Lovell, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise that they had not only lost the Moon but also were in a very precarious situation. It was the determination, creativity and ingenuity of the crew and NASA personnel that held sway, transforming a potential tragedy into a triumph of intelligence, engineering and quick thinking. James DeOliveira delivers the harrowing story! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-04-11 20:30 - 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 38° 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 2%, relative humidity 50%, temperature 19C, wind N 10 km/h

Science Academy: "The Hubble Space Telescope"
2025-04-12 10:00 - 12:00
Thirty-five years ago an incredible mission introduced kids to visual insights of the stars and constellations not seen by previous generations. Cadets will explore the majestic successes of Hubble! [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]

Plus Night: "Nanotechnology"
2025-04-12 19:00 - 22:00
As the firepit is under construction for upgrading, there will be no marshmallow roast.
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 Full Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 28° 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 2%, relative humidity 52%, temperature 21C, wind NE 3 km/h
Sunset: 7:30pm CDT. Twilight Ends: 8:54pm CDT.

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-04-14 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.]

Solar Viewing
2025-04-15 11:30 - 14:30
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 70°. 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 (Very Good): precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 44%, relative humidity 56%, temperature 23C, wind N 14 km/h

Science Academy: "Storms!"
2025-04-19 10:00 - 12:00
Lightning storms rage on Venus and Jupiter while wind storms vary from Earth to Mars to Neptune. Cadets will do some remote “stormspotting”! [For ages eight to twelve. $5 per EBR-Parish Cadet; $6 per other-Parish Cadet.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-04-19 19:30 - 22:00
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 (Fair): precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 77%, relative humidity 78%, temperature 25C, wind SE 14 km/h

Spring Space Exploration Camp (day one)
2025-04-22 08:00 - 17:00
This two-day, thrice-a-year offering gives kids a front-row seat for hands-on exploration of current STEM developments; the latest in astronomical discoveries; and construction and launch of a chemical rocket. [For ages nine to thirteen. $55 per EBR-Parish Explorer; $66 per other-Parish Explorer.]

Spring Space Exploration Camp (day two)
2025-04-23 08:00 - 17:00

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Thirty-Five Years of Hubble"
2025-04-25 19:30 - 20:30
This is one of the missions that revolutionized how the population of Earth saw its place in the Universe. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-04-25 20:30 - 22:00
The 20OGS will be closed.
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 (Fair): precipitation potential 12%, sky cover 49%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 24C, wind S 3 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-04-26 11:30 - 14:30
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 Aries at a maximum altitude of 73°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 4%, sky cover 21%, relative humidity 73%, temperature 28C, wind E 3 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Quantum Physics"
2025-04-26 14:30 - 18:30

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-04-26 19:30 - 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 (Very Good): precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 22%, relative humidity 76%, temperature 26C, wind S 3 km/h

International Astronomy Day
2025-05-03 15:00 - 23:00
Due to NOAA’s current forecast (as of 12pm) it is strongly recommended that the public not arrive until after 4pm on Saturday. The music artist has been cancelled. Solar viewing has been postponed until at least 3:30pm.
Food Vendors: City Gelato, Rosie’s Gourment Popcorn, The Spice is Right.
Confirmed Exhibitors: Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club; Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Society; Baton Rouge Zoo; Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center; Civil Air Patrol; East Baton Rouge Parish Library; East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement; LIGO; Louisiana Master Naturalists; Louisiana Space Consortium; LSU Amateur Radio Club; St. George Fire Protection District. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast for 3pm to 7pm (Fair): precipitation potential 16%, sky cover 41%, relative humidity 71%, temperature 24C, wind NW 11 km/h
NOAA Forecast for 7pm to 11pm (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 13%, relative humidity 74%, temperature 22C, wind NW 7 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-05-09 20:00 - 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 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.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 30%, sky cover 81%, relative humidity 92%, temperature 20C, wind NE 9 km/h
