Science Academy: "Rockets of the Past"
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Highland Road Park Observatory
No Cadet has seen the Saturn V in action live, but many have seen rockets of the past orbit the Earth as they pass over hometowns. This session will link by-gone successes with the experiments and accomplishments of the future! [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 331320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-09-06 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 7:20pm 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 35° in Aquarius. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 8:42pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 5%, sky cover 39%, relative humidity 78%, temperature 27C, heat index 30C, wind N 3 km/h

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-13 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.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Wonders of the Fall Sky"
2025-09-12 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
There is a NOAA Air Quality Alert until 12am.
Leaves and temperatures are falling. 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.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 19%, relative humidity 67%, temperature 27C, heat index 29C, wind S 3 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-09-12 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 7:13pm CDT. Twilight Ends, 8:34pm 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.]

Science Academy: "Saturn"
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
It is a special year for the ringed beauty. The tilt of our view is allowing the rings to come back into focus, and the largest moon Titan is performing a series of transits across its parent planet’s disc! Cadets will uncover it all. [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 331320.

Plus Night: "The Outer Giants"
2025-09-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
There is a NOAA Air Quality Alert 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 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.]
Sunset: 7:11pm CDT. Twilight Ends: 8:33pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 17%, relative humidity 62%, temperature 28C, heat index 30C, wind E 5 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-09-16 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 Leo at a maximum altitude of 62°. 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 9%, sky cover 22%, relative humidity 61%, temperature 31C, heat index 36C, wind NW 3 km/h

Titan Transit of Saturn
2025-09-19 23:00 - 2025-09-20 01:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
An amazing series of transits of Titan (the largest moon of Saturn) across its parent planet’s disc has been taking place for months now. This last full one is the best timed for the general public. Weather permitting, viewing of the shadow and disc of Titan sliding onto the disc of Saturn will take place! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 5%, relative humidity 83%, temperature 24C, wind SW 3 km/h

Science Academy: "The Spooky Session"
2025-09-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
It’s the Saturday before the Spooky Spectrum! Cadets will preview some of that event’s concepts, experiencing creepy legends and tales from the annals of space exploration while delving into a science-based mystery. [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 331320.

Saturnian Opposition
2025-09-20 21:30 - 23:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Saturn is rising as the Sun is setting. The Earth and Saturn are now the closest they will be to each other this year! Weather permitting, viewing of Saturn will take place. [For ages six and older. No admission fee. Binocular recommended.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 54%, relative humidity 82%, temperature 27C, wind S 3 km/h

Neptunian Opposition
2025-09-21 21:30 - 23:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Neptune is rising as the Sun is setting. The Earth and Neptune are now the closest they will be to each other this year! Weather permitting, viewing of Neptune will take place. [For ages six and older. No admission fee. Binocular recommended.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 2%, sky cover 24%, relative humidity 85%, temperature 25C, wind S 3 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-09-27 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 Virgo at a maximum altitude of 58°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended.
[For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 2%, relative humidity 58%, temperature 28C, heat index 30C, wind N 10 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Aerospace Engineering II"
2025-09-27 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 331321. Deadline for online registration is 6pm the day (Friday) before.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-09-27 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 6:54pm 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 24° in Scorpius. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 8:14pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 4%, relative humidity 67%, temperature 25C, wind N 8 km/h

The Spooky Spectrum
2025-10-04 18:00 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Come visit on this moonlit night–if you dare–as HRPO delves into the eerie side of astronomy, physics and aeronautics. We’ll have creepy science demonstrations, some of which have never been seen. Don’t forget the stories: strange sky phenomena…extra dimensions…extraterrestrials. Be warned. We want to make you think! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 12%, sky cover 40%, relative humidity 78%, temperature 25C, heat index 26C, wind E 16 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Triumph at LIGO"
2025-10-10 19:30 - 20:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
(GUEST SPEAKER: R. Mishael Sedas of LIGO)
It has been ten years since that breathtaking announcement by the LIGO facilities in Louisiana and Washington State. The confirmation of the existence of gravitational waves proved yet one more “guess” of Einstein’s and opened another branch of investigation into the Universe! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-10-10 20:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 6:38pm CDT. Twilight Ends, 7:59pm CDT.
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 7° in Taurus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]

Science Academy: "Rockets of the Future"
2025-10-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Cadets may believe that rocket technology has already been perfected. Yet engineers reveal more and more test results which may take the ability to lift human beings, satellites and cargo off the Earth to another realm. [Prior registration in “Rockets of the Past” 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 331320

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-10-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 6:37pm 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.]
Twilight Ends, 7:58pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 1%, relative humidity 68%, temperature 22C, wind NE 3 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-10-13 11:15 - 14:15 | 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 Virgo at a maximum altitude of 52°. 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 2%, relative humidity 50%, temperature 26C, wind NE 3 km/h

The Self-Guided Tour
2025-10-17 19:15 - 21:15 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sunset, 6:30pm CDT
This tour starts at HRPO and ends at your home! Three annual Self-Guided Tours will occur (with the others to follow in early November next year, and at HRPO’s 30th Anniversary Party in 2027). You will be tasked to acquire a number of “points” in a limited amount of time. Do you have what it takes to reach the upper echelon of “leisure viewer”? [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 7:51pm CDT
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 24%, relative humidity 78%, temperature 25C, wind SE 9 km/

Science Academy: "Spinoff Technology"
2025-10-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
Sometimes a device, substance or way of doing something created specifically for an internal goverment job migrates into the lives of everyday citizens. Cadets may have experienced them in the week before arriving for this session! [Prior registration in “Rockets of the Past” 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 331320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-10-18 19:30 - 22:00 | Highland Road Park Observatory
CANCELLED.
Sunset, 6:29pm 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.]
Twilight Ends, 7:50pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 45%, sky cover 54%, relative humidity 97%, temperature 24C, wind S 10 km

Comet Lemmon Viewing
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Burbank Soccer Complex, 12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sunset, 6:25pm CDT
A bright comet awaits! Weather permitting, viewing of Comet Lemmon will be attempted. [For ages six and older. Binocular recommended. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 7:46pm CDT

Comet Lemmon Viewing
2025-10-23 19:15 - 20:45 | Burbank Soccer Complex, 12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sunset, 6:24pm CDT
A bright comet awaits! Weather permitting, viewing of Comet Lemmon will be attempted. [For ages six and older. Binocular recommended. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 7:45pm CDT
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 34%, relative humidity 66%, temperature 20C, wind E 9 km

Comet Lemmon Viewing
2025-10-24 19:15 - 20:45 | Burbank Soccer Complex, 12400 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Sunset, 6:23pm CDT
A bright comet awaits! Weather permitting, viewing of Comet Lemmon will be attempted. [For ages six and older. Binocular recommended. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 7:45pm CDT
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 50%, relative humidity 75%, temperature 21C, wind E 13 km

Solar Viewing
2025-10-25 11:15 - 14:15 | 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 Virgo at a maximum altitude of 47°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 49%, sky cover 74%, relative humidity 77%, temperature 26C, wind SE 10 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Spooky STEM"
2025-10-25 14:30 - 18:30 | Highland Road Park Observatory
