2026 International Astronomy Day
Saturday 25 April form 3pm to 11pm
For ages six and older. No admission fee.
Subject to Change
PARKING
There is extensive parking on HRPO grounds. If this parking fills, there is parking next door near the Bayou Fountain Blueway entrance.
ENTRY
The schedule will be available near the pavilion kiosk. Please sign the visitor book there, indicating number of people in your party and your zip code.
SCHEDULE
3:00pm to 5:45pm = Renaissance Sundial
3:00pm to 6:30pm = Viewing (Sun)
3:15pm to 8:15pm = Train Like an Astronaut!
6:00pm to 7:30pm = Chemical Rocket Launches
7:00pm to 9:00pm = Physical Science Demonstrations
7:30pm to 8:30pm = Viewing (Venus) in Taurus, magnitude -3.9
7:45pm to 8:15pm = Crepuscular Ray Search
7:45pm to 10:30pm = Viewing (Jupiter) in Gemini, magnitude -2.1
7:45pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (Waxing Gibbous Moon) in Leo, magnitude -12.4
8:15pm to 8:45pm = Scintillation of Sirius class A, mag -1.5
= Viewing (Capella) class G, mag +0.1
= Viewing (Betelgeuse) class M, mag +0.4
8:15pm to 10:15pm = Viewing (Procyon) class F, mag +0.4
8:15pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (Arcturus) class K, mag 0.0
= Viewing (Spica) class B, mag +1.0
8:20pm to 8:30pm = Predicted Visible Passes
= USA 59 Rocket (mag +0.7)
= Hubble Space Telescope (mag +0.9)
8:20pm to 8:35pm = Egress of Regulus class B, mag +1.4
8:30pm to 8:35pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 36529 (mag +1.5)
8:30pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (North Star) class F, mag +2.0
8:30pm to 8:50pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 36523 (mag +1.7)
8:45pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (The Big Dipper) seven stars
= Viewing (Corvus the Crow) four stars
= Viewing (The Beehive Cluster) mag +3.5
8:55pm to 9:05pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 35877 (mag +2.0)
9:00pm to 9:05pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 36516 (mag +2.0)
9:00pm to 9:10pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 35754 (mag +2.0)
9:05pm to 9:15pm = Predicted Visible Passes
= Starlink 35767 (mag +1.9)
= Starlink 35942 (mag +1.9)
= Starlink 35732 (mag +1.9)
9:10pm to 9:15pm = Predicted Visible Passes
= Starlink 36078 (mag +1.9)
= Starlink 35720 (mag +2.0)
9:10pm to 9:20pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 36125 (mag +2.0)
9:25pm to 9:30pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Terra (mag +1.7)
9:25pm to 9:35pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Chang Zheng 4B Rocket (mag +1.8)
10:00pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (Omega Centauri) (mag +4.5)
All viewing is weather permitting.
Free binocular checkout from HRPO front desk will be available beginning at sunset, but there are a limited number. We strongly encourage visitors on site between 7pm and 11pm to have personal binoculars.