Observatories are home to some of the biggest and most impressive telescopes in the world. As many amateur astronomers know, there are numerous ways to experience the night sky beyond looking through a telescope in your own backyard. Louisiana has impressive observatories that offer a wide variety of star parties, tours, and observatory programs that will expand your knowledge of astronomy and your love of the night sky, whether you are new to astronomy or have been in the hobby for years.
For your convenience, we have compiled an alphabetical list of observatories in Louisiana that offer programs for the public.
Disclaimer: This information was collected from the observatories’ websites in July 2024. Some information may be subject to change if the websites are updated. If interested in visiting one of the listed observatories, please contact the observatory for the latest information before you visit.
Highland Road Park Observatory
The Highland Road Park Observatory (HRPO) is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Managed by the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society (BREC), the society uses the observatory as a meeting place for amateur astronomers and helps the public better understand the world of astronomy and other space science.
Telescopes
The two main telescopes housed at the HRPO are the 20” reflecting telescope and a 16” reflecting telescope. It also has several smaller telescopes.
Visiting
The HRPO has several different public programs. An overall calendar can be found here. One of the programs is the Friday Night Lecture Series. This is a free science talk to the community. After the talk and a Q&A session, if weather permits, then sky viewing will last until 10pm. Another public program offered by the observatory is the Evening Sky Viewings.
Image Credit: VisitBatonRouge.com
Livingston Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was created to open the field of gravitational waves predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. This portion of the observatory, as it exists in two states, is in Livingston, Louisiana.
Equipment
The observatory has multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors. It consists of two inferometers, though only one is in Louisiana and the other is located in Hanford, Washington.
Visiting
The LIGO in Louisiana offers an event called Science Saturdays, which takes place the third Saturday of each month. During this free event, the observatory offers tours and time to explore the exhibit hall, which has around fifty interactive science exhibits.
Image Credit: ligo.caltech.edu
If visitors plan on going in a group of over fifteen people, then the observatory asks that a tour request form is filled out prior. There are also separate programs for groups such as school groups, a home school, a community organization, or an interested member of the public.
Shreveport Observatory
The Shreveport Observatory is located eight miles south of Shreveport, Louisiana. Built by the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society in 1964, the observatory was eventually donated to the Caddo Parish School System.
Telescopes
The observatory is home to a 14” Meade SCT, a 14” Celestron telescope, a 6” refractor, and a pair of observing binoculars.
Visiting
The Shreveport Observatory offers free public observing nights hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. A calendar of the upcoming events can be found here.
Image Credit: Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society
Interested in finding an observatory or planetarium in your state? Check out our Astronomy Hub!
