2026 International Astronomy Day
Saturday 25 April from 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)
3:00pm to 8:00pm = Planet Walk / The Multiple Activity Challenge
3:15pm to 7:45pm = Wooded Trails
3:15pm to 8:15pm = Train Like an Astronaut!
3:30pm to 7:30pm = Various Exhibitors [View Calendar for list.]
4:30pm to 5:45pm = Patriot Quest Game #1
4:30pm to 9:30pm = Natural Sky Task Force [Public Input]
5:00pm to 7:00pm = Face Painting
6:00pm to 7:30pm = Moonswell at the Stage
6:00pm to 7:30pm = Chemical Rocket Launches
6:15pm to 7:30pm = Patriot Quest Game #2
7:00pm to 9:00pm – Physical Science Demonstrations
7:30pm to 8:00pm = Comet Demonstration
7:30pm to 8:30pm = Viewing (Venus) in Taurus, magnitude -3.9
7:30pm to 10:00pm = LSU 20OGS Telescope
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
8:00pm to 9:30pm = Patriot Quest Game #3
8:10pm to 8:25pm = Predicted Visible Passes
= Hubble Space Telescope (mag +0.9)
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 8:35pm = Egress of Regulus class B, mag +1.4
=Predicted Visible Pass USA 59 Rocket (mag +0.7)
8:30pm to 8:40pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= an Atlas IIA Rocket (mag +1.6)
8:30pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (North Star) class F, mag +2.0
8:45pm to 8:55pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Starlink 37183 (mag +2.0)
8:45pm to 9:00pm = Lunar Tour
8:45pm to 11:00pm = Viewing (The Big Dipper) seven stars
= Viewing (Corvus the Crow) four stars
= Viewing (The Beehive Cluster) mag +3.5
8:50pm to 9:00pm = Predicted Visible Passes
= Starlink 37217 (mag +2.0)
= Starlink 37136 (mag +1.8)
8:55pm to 9:05pm = Predicted Visible Passes
= Starlink 36309 (mag +2.0)
= Starlink 37169 (mag +1.9)
= Starlink 37191 (mag +1.9)
9:25pm to 9:30pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= Terra (mag +1.7)
9:25pm to 9:35pm = Predicted Visible Pass
= a Chang Zheng 4B Rocket (mag +1.8)
10:00pm to 11:00pm = Attempted Viewing [Omega Centauri] mag +4.5
10:45pm to 11:15pm = Io-Europa Conjunction
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.
Food Vendor Pricings Below
City Gelato = $6 per cup of Gelato
Rosie’s Gourmet Popcorn = $5-7 per bag of popcorn
