Astronomy in the Park - An Evening of Stargazing & Exploration
Schedule
Wed, 25 Feb, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
Pelican Park White Gym | Mandeville, LA
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Experience the wonders of the cosmos right here in Mandeville!Pelican Park’s Astronomy in the Park invites you to explore the universe through a two-part celestial adventure. This program is designed with flexibility in mind—feel free to join us for the full experience or drop in for just the portion that interests you most.
The Experience
1. The Indoor Portable Planetarium (White Gym, Court 3) Step inside our mobile dome for a digital preview of the night sky. These shows complement our outdoor viewing, providing a visual guide to the deep sky objects and lunar features we’ll be searching for later in the evening.
· Schedule: We will host a few back-to-back shows before the outdoor stargazing begins. Please wait quietly outside the dome for the next show to start, you will be guided in when it is time.
· Duration: Each show lasts approximately 20 minutes.
· Food Policy: No food or drink inside the dome.
2. Guided Outdoor Stargazing (Yellow Complex) Once the sun goes down, we head outside to peer through powerful telescopes. While we are hosting the event, members of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society are invited to attend and often bring along their own specialized telescopes to provide even more viewing opportunities for the public.
Our focus includes:
· The Lunar Surface: Discover the Moon’s dramatic landscape, featuring high-contrast views of its vast basins and rugged terrain.
· Messier & Deep Sky Objects: We’ll hunt for famous "Messier objects” - a collection of deep-space wonders including glowing nebulae, distant galaxies, and sparkling star clusters.
· Planetary viewing: When the solar system brings planets into view, we use our telescopes to share these planetary wonders.
Know Before You Go
· Flexible Attendance: You are welcome to attend both the planetarium and the stargazing, or just one of the two.
· All Ages Event: Children are very welcome at both portions of the event, but children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult to the planetarium show and should be closely supervised near the telescope equipment during the outdoor event.
· Seating: Please bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for the outdoor viewing portion. For the planetarium, some chairs are available, but most seating is on the gym floor so feel free to bring a blanket or towel to sit on.
· Comfort: Don't forget the bug spray—it’s essential for a comfortable evening in the Louisiana night air!
· Night Vision: If you bring a flashlight, please use a red-light filter (or red cellophane) to help everyone’s eyes stay adjusted to the dark.
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Where is it happening?
Pelican Park White Gym, Mandeville, Louisiana, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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