Highland Road Park Observatory

Discussion: "Artificial Intelligence"
2026-01-16 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Highland Road Park Observatory
Many game-changing moments have occurred since HRPO’s last focus on AI–some astonishing, some alarming. This brief update is for any who want the latest information. [Postponed from 12 December. For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-01-16 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 5:27pm CST. Twilight Ends, 6:52pm CST.
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 4%, sky cover 43%, relative humidity 87%, temperature 15C, wind S 6 km/

Science Academy: "Planet, Star, Galaxy, Universe III"
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The comparative investigation continues! A never-before-seen red-light constellation finder will be included in Cadets’ stations. [Participation in Part I or Part II 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 431320.

Plus Night: "Winter Sky Survey"
2026-01-17 19:00 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset: 5:27pm CST. Twilight Ends: 6:52pm CST.
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 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 4%, sky cover 41%, relative humidity 56%, temperature 8C, wind chill 6C, wind N 10 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Planet X"
2026-01-23 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Ten years ago Caltech astronomers released evidence for an object larger than Earth–past Neptune in the outer solar system. If it exists, this planet could take thousands of years to orbit the Sun. What data have more recent observations uncovered? [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-01-23 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Cancelled. HRPO will close at 9pm.
Sunset, 5:33pm CST. Twilight Ends, 6:57pm CST.
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 24° in Pisces. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 7%, sky cover 85%, relative humidity 81%, temperature 16C, wind NE 11 km/h

Science Academy: "Calendars and Timekeepers"
2026-01-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Almost always based on division of an Earth year and/or a lunar cycle, calendars mark the passages and anticipations of important events of our lives: births, graduations, marriages, deaths—comet apparitions, meteor showers, eclipses! Cadets will learn the origins and varieties of calendars. [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 431320

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-01-24 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Cancelled. NOAA Flood Advisory in effect until 7pm Saturday. NOAA Cold Weather Advisory from 6pm Saturday to 6pm Sunday. NOAA Winter Storm Watch from midnight Sunday to 6pm Sunday. NOAA Extreme Cold Warning from 6pm Sunday to 12pm Tuesday.
Sunset, 5:34pm CST. Twilight Ends, 6:58pm CST.
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 49° 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 68%, sky cover 90%, relative humidity 100%, temperature 13C, wind N 5 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Apollo 14 Fifty-Fifth Anniversary"
2026-01-30 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
It was the launch that had something to prove. Nearly a year after the near-disaster of Apollo Thirteen our country’s first spaceman–Alan Shepard–returned to space, joined by Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell. During this time when Americans readying for the launch of Artemis II, former HRPO Center Supervisor Tom Northrop continues his Apollo anniversary talks. [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-01-30 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 5:39pm CST. Twilight Ends, 7:02pm CST.
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 80° in Gemini. 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 66%, relative humidity 67%, temperature 5C, wind chill 2C, wind N 16 km/h

Solar Viewing
2026-01-31 12:00 - 14:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
NOAA’s Extreme Cold Warning expires at 10am Sunday.
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 calcium-K wavelength and directly hydrogen-alpha wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Capricornus at a maximum altitude of 42°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 4%, relative humidity 37%, temperature 2C, wind chill -5C, wind N 29 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Geophysics"
2026-01-31 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 431321. Deadline for online registration is 6pm the day (Friday) before.]

Artemis II Party
2026-02-06 18:30 - 22:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The Artemis II launch has been delayed until at least March. HRPO will still be open for viewing. The 20OGS will be in operation from 8:30pm to 10pm.
This test flight will be the first of the Artemis Program to have human beings on board: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. These four brave souls will travel over 7000 kilometers beyond the Moon! This trip is expected to last about ten days. Celebration is in order, and HRPO will provide it! Sky viewing and other activities will take place simultaneously. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 2%, relative humidity 70%, temperature 16C, wind W 5 km/h

Science Academy: "ISS Expedition 13"
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
The International Space Station is one of the greatest engineering feats in human history. From March 2006 to September 2006, Pavel Vinogradov, Jeff Williams and Thomas Reiter 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 431320.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-02-07 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 5:46pm CST. Twilight Ends, 7:08pm CST.
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 (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 1%, relative humidity 67%, temperature 13C, wind NE 3 km/h

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2026-02-09 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 lunar, planetary and deep-sky gazing; and factors to consider when buying a binocular, a telescope or a camera. 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.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "2025--The Space Year in Review"
2026-02-13 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Tradition continues with HRPO’s cornerstone program looking back at the discoveries, advances and celestial events of the previous year. [Postponed from 2 January. For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-02-13 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
HRPO will atttempt sky viewing until at least 9:15pm.
Sunset, 5:51pm CST. Twilight Ends, 7:13pm CST.
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 1%, sky cover 66%, relative humidity 89%, temperature 18C, wind SE 4 km/h

Science Academy: "The Mercury Program"
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shephard, Deke Slayton. These mens’ names have passed into history and into legend. Many Cadets know why; now the others will as well! [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 431320.

Plus Night: "Love in the Ether"
2026-02-14 19:00 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset: 5:51pm CST. Twilight Ends: 7:13pm CST.
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 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 (Poor): precipitation potential 9%, sky cover 78%, relative humidity 93%, temperature 19C, wind S 13 km/h

Mercurian Elongation
2026-02-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Burbank Soccer Complex, 12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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”. A waxing crescent Moon, Jupiter and Saturn will also be seen. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 2%, sky cover 57%, relative humidity 76%, temperature 24C, wind SW 14 km/h

American STEM: 1776-1826
2026-02-20 17:45 - 21:45 | Highland Road Park Observatory
20OGS viewing will take place from 7pm to 8:30pm.
The great Constitutional Republic experiment has been going strong for 250 years. In addition to incalculable gifts in the areas of human rights and the arts, the United States education and capitalist and social systems (and our international partnerships) have generated enormous accomplishments in STEM fields.
CELESTIAL TARGETS (weather permitting): 5:45pm, Waxing Crescent Moon / 6pm, Jupiter / 6:15pm, Sirius / 6:30pm, Capella and Winter Triangle / 6:45pm, Pleiades / 7pm, Polaris / 7:15pm, Andromeda Galaxy and Beehive Cluster / 7:30pm, Canopus and The Kids / 7:45pm, Orion Nebula / 8pm, Aldebaran and the Hyades / 8:30pm, Uranus
[This series will follow the Community Discussion format. Part One of Six. For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 4%, sky cover 47%, relative humidity 81%, temperature 25C, wind S 10 km/h

Science Academy: "Hello, Operator!"
2026-02-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Ring, ring! Cadets will learn the origins of the society-changing and versatile telephone. [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 431320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-02-21 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 5:57pm CST. Twilight Ends, 7:18pm CST.
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 36° in Aries. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 2%, sky cover 41%, relative humidity 73%, temperature 19C, wind N 21 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "150 Years of the Telephone"
2026-02-27 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Although many learned personages had truly crummy predictions regarding the invention’s future in society, the telephone revolutionized the possibilities of long-distance communication. [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-02-27 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 5:57pm CST. Twilight Ends, 7:18pm CST.
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 84° in Gemini. 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 4%, relative humidity 73%, temperature 19C, wind NE 5 km/h

Solar Viewing
2026-02-28 12:00 - 14:00 | 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 calcium-K wavelength and directly hydrogen-alpha wavelength) will take place. During this time the Sun will be in the constellation Aquarius at a maximum altitude of 52°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 11%, relative humidity 53%, temperature 24C, wind E 5 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Astronomy for Personalized Advancement"
2026-02-28 14:30 - 18:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory

Evening Sky Viewing
2026-02-28 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 6:02pm CST. Twilight Ends, 7:23pm CST.
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 78° in Cancer. 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 3%, relative humidity 63%, temperature 19C, wind S 3 km/hr

Total Lunar Eclipse
2026-03-03 02:30 - 06:15 | Burbank Soccer Complex, 12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Overnight excitement as we witness one of nature’s most spectacular events! While crossing from Leo into Sextans and then back into Leo, our Moon will enter Earth’s shadows. There are a variety of shadings the Moon 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 from the Baton Rouge region until the summer of 2029! [Personnel will be at HRPO from 2:30am to 5:15am, and at the BSC from 3:45am to 6:15am. For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 53%, relative humidity 90%, temperature 16C, wind SE 4 km/hr
