Highland Road Park Observatory

Science Academy: "Rockets of the Future"
2025-10-11 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 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
2025-10-10 20:30 - 22:00
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.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Triumph at LIGO"
2025-10-10 19:30 - 20:30
(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.]

The Spooky Spectrum
2025-10-04 18:00 - 22:00
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

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-09-27 19:30 - 22:00
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

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

Solar Viewing
2025-09-27 11:30 - 14:30
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

Neptunian Opposition
2025-09-21 21:30 - 23:30
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

Saturnian Opposition
2025-09-20 21:30 - 23:30
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

Science Academy: "The Spooky Session"
2025-09-20 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Titan Transit of Saturn
2025-09-19 23:00 - 2025-09-20 01:00
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

Solar Viewing
2025-09-16 11:30 - 14:30
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

Plus Night: "The Outer Giants"
2025-09-13 19:00 - 22:00
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

Science Academy: "Saturn"
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Evening Sky Viewing
2025-09-12 20:30 - 22:00
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.]

Friday Night Lecture Series: "Wonders of the Fall Sky"
2025-09-12 19:30 - 20:30
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

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Meeting
2025-09-08 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.]

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.
