Landolt Astronomical Observatory
Public Observing Schedule
Once a month, on the Saturday (or sometimes Sunday) nearest the First Quarter Moon, with a "rain date" on the next day (Sunday) at the same time of day as Saturday. If the weather is mostly cloudy, there will not be any observing, as there will not be any celestial body to see.
Admission is free and you need not bring anything. The observatory was built in the late 1930's and is not handicapped accessible.
| 2019 Spring Dates | Time | Main Targets |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 12 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM | first quarter moon, binary stars, double stars, the Pleiades, and the great nebula is Orion |
| Saturday, February 16 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM | The moon and the Orion Nebula |
|
Saturday, March 16 |
8:00 - 9:00 PM | The moon and the Orion Nebula |
|
Saturday, April 6 |
8:00 - 9:00 PM | The moon and the Orion Nebula |
| 2018 Fall Dates | Time | Main Targets |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday, Sep. 15 (rain date: Sunday Sep.16) |
7:30 - 8:30 PM | Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon |
|
Sunday Oct. 14 |
7:00 - 8:00 PM | Mars, Saturn and the 1st Quarter Moon |
|
Saturday Nov. 10 (rain date: Sunday, Nov. 11) |
7:00 - 8:00 PM | View Mars for the last time this year |
|
Saturday Dec. 15 (rain date: Sunday, Dec.16) |
7:00 - 8:00 PM |
For more information and updates on how weather may affect the public nights, please
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Directions to the Observatory
The Landolt Astronomical Observatory is located on the LSU campus on the roof of Nicholson Hall on Tower Dr. immediately west of the LSU Student Union (across Tower Dr.). Convenient parking is located in the lot immediately south of Nicholson Hall (this lot is between Nicholson Hall and Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex). Parking in the lot is free and open after business hours and on weekends. Entry to the building should be by the door in the middle of the south side of Nicholson Hall. People will then be directed to climb the stairs up to the roof.
