Evening Sky Viewing
2024-02-02 20:30 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Highland Road Park Observatory
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the Last Quarter Moon will be below the horizon. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Science Academy: "What is a Volcano?"
2024-02-03 10:00 - 12:00
This is the first of three sessions belong to Amy Northrop’s volcano module! The other two will take place on 17 February and 2 March. Participation in this session is not a prerequisite for the other two sessions. [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
2024-02-03 19:30 - 22:00
NOAA FORECASTS A FIFTY-NINE PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN DURING THIS EVENT. THERE WILL BE NO VIEWING AND HRPO WILL BE CLOSED BY 8:30.
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.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Constellation Orion"
2024-02-09 19:30 - 20:30
The most famous pattern of stars in the sky, Orion can be seen by most civilizations, has numerous myths attached to him and is inherently a signpost to other celestial treasures. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2024-02-09 20:30 - 22:00, 2024-03-09 19:30 - 22:00
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.]

Science Academy: "120 Years of Flight"
2024-02-10 10:00 - 12:00
The principles of heavier-than-air travel, the history (from the Wright Brothers to the X-planes) and even a little winter twist await any Cadets who enroll in this one-time standalone session! [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
2024-02-10 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 30° in Leo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Light Pollution Committee Meeting
2024-02-12 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-03-11 18:00 - 19:00
Are you a local skygazer, homeowner, business owner, science teacher or stakeholder interested reclaiming a natural sky above HRPO and its surrounding while simultaneously saving money and energy, and making driving safer? This meeting (open to the public) is a sounding board for real-life solutions to the light pollution problem. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2024-02-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-03-11 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, the perils of light pollution 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; and 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
2024-02-14 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 major activity on the Sun. As of 12 February there had been Radio Blackout Level Two (R2) and Solar Radiation Storm Level One (S1) within the past twenty-four hours, with the last having been observed S1. Geomagnetic Storm Level One (G1) activity was predicted for that day and 14 February, while Geomagnetic Storm Level Two (G2) activity was predicted for 13 February. The Space Weather Prediction Center says “CME [coronal mass ejection] influence is anticipated 12-14 February UTC. The general public does not need to be concerned….” HRPO staff used a Sunspotter and used also an Orion 10″ Dobsonian with Thousand Oaks Optical filter. HRPO personnel saw five of the current seven Active Regions.
[For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "STEREO Shows the Sun"
2024-02-16 19:30 - 20:30
The mission was revolutionary: place two spacecraft at different vantage points to record our parent star simultaneously. BREC Center Supervisor James DeOliveira shows the fascinating science that prepared us for this year’s extreme level of activity. [Postponed from 15 September. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2024-02-16 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 61° in Taurus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Science Academy: "Volcanic Risks"
2024-02-17 10:00 - 12:00
This is the second of three sessions belong to Amy Northrop’s volcano module! The last will take place on 2 March. Participation in this session is not a prerequisite for the final session. [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.

Plus Night: "Love in the Ether"
2024-02-17 19:00 - 22:00
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 waxing gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 87° in Taurus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Radio Waves"
2024-02-23 19:30 - 20:30
The longest waves in the electromagnetic spectrum are used for entertainment and emergencies. One-way radio informs while two-or-more radio keeps us connected with others near and far. From early shipping to the ISS, radio is everywhere! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2024-02-23 20:30 - 22:00
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the Full Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 56° in Leo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Solar Viewing
2024-02-24 12:00 - 14:00
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.]

STEM Expansion: "Astrophysics"
2024-02-24 15:30 - 19:30
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
2024-02-24 19:30 - 22:00
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 34° in Virgo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Apollo 9 Fifty-Fifth Anniversary"
2024-03-01 19:30 - 20:30
The lunar successes continued as McDivitt, Schweickart and Scott performed the first command module-to-lunar module docking in space! Former BREC Center Supervisor Tom Northrop recounts the thrilling challenge and the exploits of that brave crew. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2024-03-01 20:30 - 22:00, 2024-03-02 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.]

Science Academy: "Otherwordly Volcanoes"
2024-03-02 10:00 - 12:00
This is the last of three sessions belong to Amy Northrop’s volcano module. Mars, Io and many other Solar System locations have their own amazing volcanoes–defunct and active! Participation in the first two sessions is not a prerequisite for this final session. [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 (winter session)
2024-03-08 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 or Venus or the Moon out? Is that moving object a plane, a satellite or space debris? How much darkness should I expect in a light-polluted city when twilight has passed? There is no other time like twilight. Bring it into your life! [For ages six and older. No admission fee. Binocular strongly recommended.]
UPDATE: According to NOAA, rain chance is over forty-five percent. Viewing will not take place. HRPO will close at 6pm.

Science Academy: "Galaxies"
2024-03-09 10:00 - 12:00
The islands of the Universe are composed of incredible numbers of stars, nebulae, planets and protoplanetary disks. Cadets will immerse themselves into the hidden truths of these fascinating addresses. [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.

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Wonders of the Spring Sky"
2024-03-15 19:30 - 20:30
BREC Education Curator Amy Northrop will take the audience on a fascinating tour of Baton Rouge’s upcoming spring season. She’ll highlight the celestial 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.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2024-03-15 20:30 - 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 59° in Taurus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
