Landolt Astronomical Observatory
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Public Observing Schedule
We open during the Fall and Spring semesters once a month, on the Saturday best for Moon visibility (home football games permitting).
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.
| 2024 Fall Dates | Time | Main Targets |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2024 | 8:30 pm | Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous (3 days to Full). Other targets: Saturn |
| October 19, 2024 | 9 pm | Moon phase: Waning Gibbous (2 days past Full). Other targets: Saturn |
| FRIDAY, November 1, 2024 | 8:30 pm | Moon phase: Waning Gibbous (1 day past Full). Other targets: Jupiter, Saturn |
| December 7, 2024 | 8 pm | Moon phase: First Quarter Moon. Other targets: Jupiter, Saturn |
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.
