Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Forum

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 5:30pm to 7:30pm for the winter Edge of Night session...
precipitation potential, 0%
sky cover, 18%
relative humidity, 51%
temperature, 17˚C
surface wind, S 11 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating "above average" (4 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "average" (3 out of 5). Cosmos 1743 is predicted to make a magnitude 2.5 pass beginning at 7:06pm. The H-2A rocket body is predicted to make a magnitude 1.8 pass beginning at 7:15pm. ERS-2 is predicted to make a magnitude 2.1 pass beginning at 7:22pm. HRPO will close at 7:30pm.

The 9 March 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 7:30pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 2%
sky cover, 68%
relative humidity, 91%
temperature, 19˚C
surface wind, SE 10 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "poor" (1 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "poor" (2 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator is LSU physics professor Rob Hynes. HRPO will close at 10pm.

The 10 March 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

The Highland Road Park Observatory is closed from today to Saturday the 17th, in anticipation of the out-of-town star party BRAS usually has. HRPO will reopen to the public on Monday the 19th.

To view upcoming public telescope viewing times, at HRPO and other local locations, please view the "Baton Rouge Area Telescope Viewing" thread.

The presentation "Skygazing: A Pursuer's Guide" will take place at 6pm this evening.

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 7pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 0%
sky cover, 24%
relative humidity, 58%
temperature, 20˚C
surface wind, S 14 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "below average" (2 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "poor" (2 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator is Jordan Cobbs. The 20OGS will be used, though the dropout cannot be lowered as the hydraulic cylinders have yet to be replaced. The Lacrosse 5 rocket is predicted to make a magnitude 0.8 pass beginning at 8:37pm. The International Space Station is predicted to make a magnitude -2.6 pass beginning at 8:42pm. HRPO will close at 10pm.

The 23 March 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 7:30pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 2%
sky cover, 73%
relative humidity, 78%
temperature, 22˚C
surface wind, SW 14 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "poor" (1 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "poor" (2 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator is Jordan Cobbs; the dropout will not be lowered as quotes are coming in to replace the two hydraulic cylinders. HRPO will close at 10pm.

The 24 March 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

The Highland Road Park Observatory is closed on Friday 30 March for Good Friday.

Traditionally, HRPO was open on Good Friday for Professor Brad Schaefer's "Dating the Crucifixion" talk. However, Dr. Schaefer has retired and is moving from Baton Rouge. We wish Martha and him a fun retirement.

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 7:30pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 0%
sky cover, 1%
relative humidity, 69%
temperature, 18˚C
surface wind, SE 10 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time both the transparency rating and the seeing rating will be "average" (3 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator is Jordan Cobbs. An Atlas V Centaur rocket body is predicted to make a magnitude 1.8 pass beginning at 8:34pm. Tiangong 2 is predicted to make a magnitude 1.1 pass beginning at 8:38pm. HRPO will close at 10pm.

The 31 March 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

Raffle tickets are now on sale; the proceeds will assist in covering the costs of International Astronomy Day. The first prize is an Orion 8' Skyquest Dobsonian Reflecting Telescope. One must be eighteen or older to purchase tickets. The drawing is Saturday 21 April at 10pm. Those whose names are drawn do not have to be present to win...
http://hrpo.lsu.edu/programs/ad_raffle.html

The presentation "Exoplanets" will take place at 7:30pm this evening; the speaker is Jordan Cobbs.

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 8:30pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 27%
sky cover, 83%
relative humidity, 83%
temperature, 22˚C
surface wind, S 16 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "too cloudy to forecast" (0 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "poor" (2 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator was to be BRAS member Merrill Hess. However, the 20OGS will not be used. Viewing will be attempted outside with a portable telescope. HRPO will close at 9:45pm. If it begins to rain anytime after 8:30pm, HRPO will close immediately.

The 6 April 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 8:30pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 16%
sky cover, 98%
relative humidity, 85%
temperature, 12˚C
surface wind, N 14 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "too cloudy to be forecast" (0 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "bad" (1 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator is BRAS member Peter Lazar; the dropout will not be lowered. HRPO will close at 9:30pm; if it begins to rain anytime after 7:30pm, HRPO will close immediately.

The 7 April 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

The presentation "Wonders of the Spring Sky" will take place at 7:30pm; the presenter is BREC Education Curator Amy Brouillette.

Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's viewing time of 8:30pm to 10pm...
precipitation potential, 23%
sky cover, 90%
relative humidity, 84%
temperature, 23˚C
surface wind, SE 32 km/h

Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "too cloudy to forecast" (0 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "poor" (2 out of 5). This evening's 20OGS operator was to be BRAS Outreach Chairman Ben Toman. However, the 20OGS will not be used. HRPO will close at 9:45pm; if it begins to rain anytime after 8:30pm, HRPO will close immediately.

The 13 April 2018 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD