Solar Viewing
2025-01-14 10:45 - 13:45 (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 Sagittarius at a maximum altitude of 39°. 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 (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 66%, relative humidity 56%, temperature 10C, wind E 10 km/h

Martian Opposition
2025-01-15 20:00 - 2025-01-16 00:00
No viewing will be attempted. HRPO will close by at least 10pm.
The Red Planet rises as the Sun sets. Weather permitting, viewing of Mars will take place during this special event that takes over two years to repeat! The waning gibbous Moon, Jupiter and Uranus will be available. [For ages six and older. No admission fee. Binocular recommended.]
NOAA Forecast (Bad): precipitation potential 32%, sky cover 88%, relative humidity 82%, temperature 10C, wind N 3 km/h

Science Academy: "Exoplanets"
2025-01-18 10:00 - 12:00
Just a few decades ago the concept of planets orbiting other stars was speculative. Now thousands of these bodies are known. Some mirror our own Solar System; some are alien beyond belief! Cadets will take a survey of galactic planets. [Registration in progress. 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: "Bright and Close"
2025-01-18 19:00 - 22:00
20OGS will open no earlier than 8:30pm. 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 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 (Good): precipitation potential 1%, sky cover 43%, relative humidity 74%, temperature 16C, wind NW 10 km/h

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-01-24 20:00 - 21:30
The lecture, “Nome Serum Run”, has been postponed until 7 February.
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 1%, relative humidity 66%, temperature 4C, wind E 2 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-01-25 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 Capricornus at a maximum altitude of 41°. Protective clothing and sunscreen are recommended. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Excellent): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 9%, relative humidity 44%, temperature 13C, wind SE 10 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Radio"
2025-01-25 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
2025-01-25 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 (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 56%, relative humidity 80%, temperature 10C, wind SE 8 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Current Status of Spaceflight"
2025-01-31 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.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-01-31 20:30 - 22:00
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing 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 0%, sky cover 64%, relative humidity 67%, temperature 14C, wind W 6 km/h

Science Academy: "Sirius and Canopus"
2025-02-01 10:00 - 12:00
The two brightest stars in the night sky are visible right now. Cadets will encounter the stunning and fierce beauty of these scientifically-interesting objects. [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.]

Learn Your Sky
2025-02-01 15:30 - 19:30
This exciting one-day course is tailor-made to instruct the patron in the basics of the unaided-eye Baton Rouge sky. [Limit thirty enrollees. $15 per EBR-Parish enrollee; $18 per other-Parish enrollee. Enrollee must be eighteen or older. To register go to www.brec.org, access the registration function and use Activity Number 531992.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-01 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 22° in Pisces. 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 70%, temperature 15C, wind S 2 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Nome Serum Run"
2025-02-07 19:30 - 20:30
In a record time, the life-saving antitoxin medicine reached the Alaska town threatened with annihilation from a spread of diphtheria. Education Program Specialist Amy Northrop presents the story for the 100th anniversary of this thrilling event. [Postponed from 24 January. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-07 20:30 - 21:30
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 88° in Taurus. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 8%, relative humidity 87%, temperature 21C, wind SW 5 km/h

Science Academy: "ISS Expedition 9"
2025-02-08 10:00 - 12:00
The International Space Station is one of the greatest engineering feats in human history. From April 2004 to October 2004 Gennady Padalka and Mike Fincke 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 531990.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-08 19:30 - 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 88° in Gemini. Please keep headlights off while parking and leaving. Drive slowly! [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Very Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 7%, relative humidity 86%, temperature 22C, wind SW 9 km/h

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-02-10 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
2025-02-13 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 the predicted increase in solar activity due to Solar Cycle 25. [For ages six and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Fair): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 65%, relative humidity 79%, temperature 12C, wind N 16 km/h

A Celestial Romance
2025-02-14 18:00 - 22:00
CANCELLED. (Large pieces of work equipment in HRPO front parking lot. Patrons are discouraged from visiting at this time. HRPO will close at 8pm.)
Take an enthralling look at the true “affair of the heart” each skygazer has with our sky this night: satellite, maybe an asteroid, planets, stars and clusters–and the Moon joins us halfway through the event! [For ages twelve and older. No admission fee.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 7%, sky cover 80%, relative humidity 84%, temperature 15C, wind E 12 km/h

Science Academy: "Deep Space Objects I"
2025-02-15 10:00 - 12:00
Double stars, clusters, nebulae…they are all out there. Cadets will learn what they are, from where they hail and how to search for them! [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"
2025-02-15 19:00 - 22:00
CANCELLED. NOAA has issued a Wind Advisory 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 waning gibbous Moon will be at a maximum altitude of 13° 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 66%, sky cover 84%, relative humidity 85%, temperature 23C, wind S 25 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Asteroids"
2025-02-21 19:30 - 20:30
Remnants of our Solar System’s early existence are still with us. Over one million of them orbit the Sun–and some pass dangerously close to the Earth. Some can be seen unaided-eye and some have been visited by spacecraft. From Ceres to Apophis, an understanding of what role these objects play in our lives is more important than ever. [Postponed from 24 January. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-21 20:30 - 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 (Good): precipitation potential 0%, sky cover 67%, relative humidity 48%, temperature 6C, wind NE 3 km/h

Solar Viewing
2025-02-22 12:00 - 14:00
HRPO will close at 1:30pm.
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.]
NOAA Forecast (Poor): precipitation potential 25%, sky cover 77%, relative humidity 56%, temperature 9C, wind NE 4 km/h

STEM Expansion: "Physics"
2025-02-22 14:30 - 18:30

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-22 19:30 - 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 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 (Bad): precipitation potential 38%, sky cover 87%, relative humidity 72%, temperature 9C, wind N 3 km/h

Friday Night Lecture Series: "The Dawn Mission"
2025-02-28 19:30 - 20:30
In March 2015, Dawn became the first spacecraft to orbit two individual bodies. Amy Northrop provides a fresh look at this incredible accomplishment. [Postponed from 24 January. For ages fourteen and older. No admission fee.]

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-02-28 20:30 - 22:00
Weather permitting, viewing through one or more telescopes will take place. During this time the waxing 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 18%, relative humidity 61%, temperature 15C, wind SW 3 km/h

Science Academy: "Mercury"
2025-03-01 10:00 - 12:00
The fastest planet will be investigated by the Cadets. [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.
