Event Friday Night Lecture

For twenty-five years this program has given patrons histories and possible futures. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events are covered.

HIGHLAND ROAD PARK OBSERVATORY

Most Fridays / 7:30-8:30 p.m. 

March Dates + Topics:

14 March = “Wonders of the Spring Sky”   BREC Education Curator Amy Northrop will take the audience on a fascinating tour of Baton Rouge’s upcoming spring season. She’ll highlight the celestial gems that will sparkle throughout those three months—gems visitors will be able to see live if they continue to visit HRPO!

28 March = “Protecting the Power Grid”   There are several different ways entire sections of our nation’s Grid can be damaged or destroyed. Indeed, it’s happened before…at least on a small scale. What about a large-scale event? Many believe it’s a matter of when, not if. Are we prepared?

April Dates + Topics:

 4 April = “The Bayou Blizzard”   The winter storm that arrived in January was a truly unique winter weather event for Louisiana. Never before had our state experienced record snow and record cold in a singular event. Kyle Brehe of the Louisiana State Office of Climatology will explain how the Bayou Blizzard of January was one for the ages!

11 April = “Apollo 13”   <Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here.> That chilling statement was transmitted through space from the brave crew to Mission Control. It soon became clear to Commander James Lovell, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise that they had not only “lost the moon” but were also in a very precarious situation. It was the determination, creativity and ingenuity of the crew and NASA personnel that held sway, transforming a potential tragedy into a triumph of intelligence, engineering and quick thinking. James DeOliveira delivers the harrowing story.

25 April = “Thirty-Five Years of Hubble”   This is one of the missions that revolutionized how the population of Earth saw its place in the Universe.