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Highland Road Park Observatory

Address:	13800 Highland Road
Phone:	(225) 768-9948
Fax:	(225) 766-3539
Web site:	http://hrpo.lsu.edu

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday: 3-10 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 6-10 p.m. Sunday and Monday: Closed

Directions: Take Interstate 10 to the Highland Road exit. Travel south approximately three miles. The observatory is on your left.

Admission: The Highland Road Park Observatory is free to the public. For information about group tours, call (225) 768-9948 or email observatory@brec.org

Come See the Wonders of the Universe!

The Highland Road Park Observatory, brought to the public by BREC, LSU's Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society,  is located on the south side of BREC's Highland Road Park.  The observatory houses a state-of-the-art 20-inch reflecting telescope, which has been used to discover over 50 asteroids, and an all accessible 16-inch reflecting telescope.

                                                               Monthly Planetary Post Newsletter

Programs:

Saturday Science Academy
Under the guidance of the observatory's Education Curator Craig Brendan, children will view a brief presentation and then engage in hands-on demonstrations and experiments related to the subject covered such as magneticism, buoyancy, optics, balloons, helicopters, submarines, homemade comets and homemade volcanoes. It's all here for the kid who can not get enough of science.
Limit 15 participants per Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome, though the observatory encourages parents to call the observatory and reserve a slot.
 

Ages:	8-12 years
Date:	Every Saturday
Time:	10 a.m.-noon
Cost:	$5 in-parish resident $6 out-of-parish resident

Friday Night Lecture Series
The observatory is proud to continue its long-running, free Lecture Series focusing on astronomy and its peripherals. With a variety of presenters, this series gives stunning and entertaining overviews of the planets and stars, stargazing techniques, physics, NASA missions, space technology and other divisions of the science that is truly universal.

Ages:	14 years and older
Date:	Every Friday
Time:	7:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost:	Free

Perseid Meteor Shower
A major shower of the year- are you ready for some "earthgrazers?"

Ages:	All
Date:	Aug. 12
Time:	9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Cost:	Free

Evening Sky Viewing
Two nights a week, the professional telescopes at the observatory are unlocked (weather permitting) to showcase the Baton Rouge sky in all its glory. Friday nights are reserved for the adult crowd, including those who just experienced our lecture series, and want to see perhaps some of the principles heard put into practice. Saturday night is family night with children of all ages experiencing the moon, planets, stellar clusters and nebulae. A marshmallow roast and small demonstrations introducing families to Science Academy take place simultaneously.

Ages:	All
Date/ Time:	Every Friday, 8:30-10 p.m. Every Saturday, 7:30-10 p.m.
Cost:	Free

Solar Viewing
Our parent star takes the stage during this time. Visitors are able to see, with their own eyes, any sizable sunspots or flares occuring. Free literature on solar power and UV proctection and free (while supplies last) sunscreen are available.

Ages:	All
Date:	Every other Sunday
Time:	Noon-1 p.m.
Cost:	Free

Total Lunar Eclipse
Overnight excitement at the observatory!  While in the constellation Taurus, the moon turns darker and darker and then red, as the light from all sunsets on the Earth fall on its surface.  This is the last total eclipse completely visible from Baton Rouge for the next three years. 

Ages:	All
Date:	Dec. 20
Time:	11:15 p.m.-5:15 a.m.
Cost:	Free

Rocket Camps
Children build and launch model rockets while learning about the space program and safety procedures.  Children should bring a lunch each day, which does not require refrigeration.  Please bring a hat and sunscreen as well.  Register at the observatory or online at brec.org/webtrac.

Fall Rocket Camp
Nov. 23-24
Registration begins Oct. 26.

Winter Rocket Camp
Dec. 23-24
Registration begins Nov. 30

8 a.m.-1 p.m., daily
(Parents can bring children a 1/2-hour early and pick up children a 1/2-hour late at no extra cost)
$36 per camp, per in-parish child
$43 per camp, per out-of-parish child

For more information, please contact the Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road, at 225-768-9948, visit http://hrpo.lsu.edu or e-mail us at observatory@brec.org.

Bottomland Hardwood Forest Walking Trail Project

The walking trail offers a place where individuals, university classes, scout groups, classroom children, and families can enjoy an educational hike through a lovely bottomland hardwood forest. The trail is divided into two paths, Semita Major (big path) and Semita Minor (little path). Trail visitors can expect about a mile of hiking path between the two, highlighting the plant species that inhabit the area.

In July 2002, Louisiana Delta Service Corps, an AmeriCorps National Service Program and the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, announced their support of the HRPO Bottomland Hardwood Forest Walking Trail Project. Delta Corps' support of a full time project coordinator ($35,000 value) and the Forest Service grant of $7,400 guaranteed the success of the project.

Additional Information:
The observatory often opens its doors for celestial events such as eclipses or meteor showers; groups are invited to schedule a field trip or inquire about our summer Traveling Telescope Program, Stargazers Summer Camp or Get In Motion! Summer Camp.

Other Highland Park Phone Numbers:

Tennis Center	(225) 766-0247
Rec./Fitness Center	(225) 767-4003

ATTENTION: Due to the fallen trees and debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, the walking trails at the Highland Road Observatory are CLOSED until further notice.