Highland Road Park Observatory

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-09-06 19:30 - 22:00
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

Science Academy: "Rockets of the Past"
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00
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.

A Galaxy of Games
2025-09-05 17:00 - 21:00
Weather permitting, sky viewing will take place from 7:30pm to 8:45pm.
This one-time-only open house will showcase those non-electronic tabletop challenges that incorporate an astronomy or STEM theme! [Postponed from 1 August. For ages twelve and older. Drinks.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 2%, sky cover 43%, relative humidity 66%, temperature 31C, heat index 36C, wind S 5 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-30 19:30 - 22:00
Rain. HRPO closed at 8pm.
Sunset, 7:28pm CDT.
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 31° in Scorpius. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Sunset, 8:52pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 41%, relative humidity 89%, temperature 26C, heat index 28C, wind NE 3 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Aerospace Engineering I"
2025-08-30 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 231321. Deadline for online registration is 6pm the day (Friday) before.]

Solar Viewing
2025-08-30 11:30 - 14:30
Cancelled. HRPO will close at 1pm.
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 68°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 38%, sky cover 55%, relative humidity 88%, temperature 28C, wind N 7 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-29 21:00 - 22:30
Cancelled.
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 19° in Libra. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 19%, sky cover 58%, relative humidity 95%, temperature 25C, wind E 2 km/h

Thomas Detman Collection
2025-08-29 18:00 - 21:00
HRPO will close by at least 8:15pm.
HRPO is pleased to present a wealth of materials from the late Thomas R. Detman With intriguing insights into the professional world of CME and solar wind research, the collection is a one-of-a-kind display at our location! [After this night, the Detman Collection will be on display during Solar Viewing sessions in September, October and November. For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 30%, sky cover 81%, relative humidity 96%, temperature 26C, wind W 3 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-23 19:30 - 22:00
Sunset, 7:37pm 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 6° in Leo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 26%, relative humidity 76%, temperature 28C, wind W 3 km/h
Twilight Ends, 9:02pm CDT.

Science Academy: "Airplane Design"
2025-08-23 10:00 - 12:00
There’s a reason the first “A” in NASA stands for “aeronautic”. Stories, songs and poems have archived our personal experience. Aircraft have transformed the way Cadets vacation and the way adults work. [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 231320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-22 20:30 - 22:00
Sunset, 7:38pm CDT.
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 (Fair): precipitation potential 13%, sky cover 59%, relative humidity 91%, temperature 26C, wind E 3 km/h
Twilight Ends, 9:03pm CDT.

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Viking Landers"
2025-08-22 19:30 - 20:30
Fifty years ago these machines departed Earth with a singular goal: to once and for all describe the basic sea level environment of Mars. The 1970s were a sensation of Solar System exploration! [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Plus Night: "Here in the Milky Way"
2025-08-16 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 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 14%, sky cover 34%, relative humidity 78%, temperature 29C, heat index 36C, wind SE 2 km/h
Sunset: 7:44pm CDT. Twilight Ends: 9:11pm CDT.

Science Academy: "Ten Mysteries"
2025-08-16 10:00 - 12:00
In a session unlike any that Cadets have seen, the ultimate questions of the Earth, the Milky Way and the Universe are confronted. On this particular occasion, the session may end without all the answers acquired! [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 231320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-15 20:30 - 22:00
Sunset, 7:45pm CDT.
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.]
Twilight Ends, 9:12pm CDT.
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 51%, relative humidity 92%, temperature 26C, wind SE 2 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Current Status of Spaceflight"
2025-08-15 19:30 - 20:30
We are all following the progress of the James Webb, Kepler, Psyche and of course Artemis. What delays are coming, and why? Which ones are on schedule? Center Supervisor James DeOliveira presents. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Solar Viewing
2025-08-13 11:45 - 14:45
Solar Viewing will end at 1:15pm.
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 74°. 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 33%, sky cover 33%, relative humidity 76%, temperature 32C, heat index 41C, wind W 3 km/h

Perseid Meteor Shower
2025-08-12 22:00 - 2025-08-13 02:00
The Perseids are one of the major meteor showers of the year, caused by debris left from the passings of Comet Swift-Tuttle. Come learn about meteors and let’s see if we can spot some “earthgrazers”. Although telescopes aren’t used for meteor hunting, we’ll have at least one available until 12am for leisurely gazing at other celestial objects. Look fast for the meteors! Perseid meteoroids hit our atmosphere traveling about sixty kilometers per second. If you’re vigilant, you may see a fireball…. [For ages six and older. No admission fee. Visitors must adhere to all rules.]
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 6%, sky cover 52%, relative humidity 93%, temperature 26C, heat index 27C, wind SE 2 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-09 19:30 - 22:00
Sunset, 7:51pm 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 18° in Aquarius. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 32%, relative humidity 77%, temperature 28C, heat index 31C, wind SE 5 km/h
Twilight Ends, 9:19pm CDT.

Science Academy: "ISS Expedition 11"
2025-08-09 10:00 - 2025-08-17 12:00
The International Space Station is one of the greatest engineering feats in human history. From April 2005 to October 2005, Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips 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 231320.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-08 20:30 - 22:00
Sunset, 7:52pm CDT.
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the Full Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 23° in Capricornus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Good): precipitation potential 3%, sky cover 32%, relative humidity 82%, temperature 27C, heat index 31C, wind SE 3 km/h
Twilight Ends, 9:21pm CDT.

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Sirius and Canopus"
2025-08-08 19:30 - 20:30
The two brightest stars in the night sky cannot both be seen if your location is too far north on the North American continent. Baton Rougeans know them as a guiding pair–the gatekeepers between the winter and spring skies. [For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-08-02 19:30 - 22:00
The 20OGS will not be in operation. HRPO will close by at least 9:30pm.
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 Libra. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 20%, sky cover 62%, relative humidity 93%, temperature 27C, heat index 29C, wind N 4 km/h
Sunset, 7:57pm CDT. Twilight Ends, 9:27pm CDT.

Science Academy: "Dwarf Planets"
2025-08-02 10:00 - 12:00
This relatively new category is fraught with frustration and awe. Cadets will explore the lesser-known objects in the far reaches of our Galaxy! [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 231320.

A Galaxy of Games
2025-08-01 17:00 - 21:00
Postponed until September. HRPO will close at least by 8pm.
This one-time-only open house will showcase those non-electronic tabletop challenges that incorporate an astronomy or STEM theme! [For ages twelve and older. Drinks.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 36%, sky cover 57%, relative humidity 85%, temperature 29C, heat index 36C, wind W 3 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-07-26 19:30 - 22:00
Sunset, 8:02pm 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 25° in Leo. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
Twilight Ends, 9:34pm CDT.

STEM Expansion: "Astronomy for Personalized Advancement"
2025-07-26 14:30 - 18:30

Solar Viewing
2025-07-26 11:30 - 14:30
Cancelled. HRPO will close at 12:15pm or if it rains.
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 Cancer at a maximum altitude of 79°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended.
[For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 58%, sky cover 59%, relative humidity 85%, temperature 29C, heat index 37C, wind S 11 km/h
