Hard Labor Creek Observatory

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Rutledge, GA
Hard Labor Creek Observatory

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Astronomical observatory operated by the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Georgia State Univ.

Located in the middle of Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge, Georgia (~50 miles east of downtown Atlanta), the observatory is a resource for professional and amateur astronomers. However, an additional service of HLCO has been to the public - bringing the wonders of the Universe to Georgia residents. Professional astronomers from Georgia State University take advantage of the dark skies, away from the light pollution of Atlanta, Conyers, and Covington, to observe objects as near as the Moon and as far away as distant galaxies. Hard Labor Creek Observatory is usually open to the public one Saturday evening per month from March through October. More details and a calendar of open house dates can be found here: https://physics-astro.gsu.edu/hlco/

09/21/2026

Check out this Cosmic Conversation at the Fernbank Science Center Planetarium this Thursday September 24th!

returns for September!

Join us at Fernbank Science Center planetarium to hear GSU Physics and Astronomy Professor Sebastien Lepine will tell us about the dynamics of the stars in the Milky Way.

As always, the talk will start following a beautiful planetarium show, and you can attend both with a single ticket!

Scan the QR codes or go to the link in bio 🔗 for tix 🎟️

Time ⏰: 7-9pm
Date 📅: Sept 24, 2026
Where 📌: Fernbank Science Center
Entry 🚪: $5 for students (valid ID required) and $10 for adults

Tags: [astronomy, space, black holes, free event, public talk, planetarium show, Atlanta, Fernbank, Georgia]

08/20/2026

Come to the Fernbank Science Center Planetarium next Thursday for GSU Physics and Astronomy's Cosmic Conversation with Dr. Justin Robinson! Tickets include a planetarium show and a talk! Student tickets are $5 and adult tickets are $10.

Did you know you could take a tour to the past if you visit Fernbank Science Center next Thursday?

Join us next Thursday, Aug 27th to take a grand tour of the Cosmos with our pilot Georgia State University GSU Physics and Astronomy lecturer and Georgia Outreach Team for Space founder Dr. Justin Robinson at the beautiful planetarium of Fernbank Science Center. 🌌

The talk will start following a beautiful planetarium show, and you can attend both with a single ticket!

Scan the QR codes or go to the link in bio 🔗 for tix 🎟️

Time ⏰: 7-9pm
Date 📅: Aug 27th, 2026
Where 📌: Fernbank Science Center
Entry 🚪: $5 for students (valid ID required) and $10 for adults

Tags: [astronomy, space, free event, public talk, planetarium show, Atlanta, Fernbank, Georgia]

07/20/2026

Check out this talk at Fernbank Science Center Planetarium this Thursday! The ticket includes a planetarium show and the talk by GSU Physics and Astronomy graduate student Mahir Patel! Buy your tickets here: http://www.fernbank.edu/CosmicConversations.html

Space talk at the biggest planetarium of Georgia is back!! 🌌

This month we're focusing on groups of stars called star clusters. Join us at Fernbank Science Center planetarium to hear PhD candidate Mahir Patel tell us about dating star clusters.

As always, the talk will start following a beautiful planetarium show, and you can attend both with a single ticket!

Scan the QR codes or go to the link in bio 🔗 for tix 🎟️

Time ⏰: 7-9pm
Date 📅: July 23, 2026
Where 📌: Fernbank Science Center
Entry 🚪: $5 for students (valid ID required) and $10 for adults

Tags: [astronomy, space, black holes, free event, public talk, planetarium show, Atlanta, Fernbank, Georgia]

05/31/2026

Join us at the Fernbank Science Center next Thursday, June 4th from 7:00-9:00pm for the next Cosmic Conversations featuring Dr. Misty Bentz! Misty will be delving into her research area of world-renowned expertise: supermassive black holes!

A planetarium show will directly precede the talk. Tickets are $5 per person for students or $10 for adults and may be reserved through the series' official webpage (https://t.gsu.edu/4jZ4eWq). The planetarium show will begin at 7pm, with the featured talk beginning at 8pm. A ticket allows you to attend either or both experiences. Ticket pricing remains the same whether you attend one portion of the evening or both.

04/26/2026

Join us at the Fernbank Science Center next Thursday, April 30th from 7:00-9:00pm for the next Cosmic Conversations featuring Dr. Jeremy Maune. Jeremy will be sharing his expertise with a very special class of supermassive black holes: blazars!

A black hole-themed planetarium show will directly precede the talk. Tickets are $5 per person for students or $10 for adults and may be reserved through the series' official webpage (https://t.gsu.edu/4jZ4eWq). The planetarium show will begin at 7pm, with the featured talk beginning at 8pm. A ticket allows you to attend either or both experiences. Ticket pricing remains the same whether you attend one portion of the evening or both.

01/28/2026

Reminder about this event everyone, tickets are selling fast!!

Have you wondered if there is life outside our Earth? If yes, then you don't wanna miss our next .

Meet our speaker Madeline Davis.

Madeline is a graduate student in astronomy . Her research focuses on studying how gas flows outward from the active centers of galaxies and affects their evolution. She will be talking about "Life in the solar system".

Limited seats available, get your tix now!!! 🎟️

01/22/2026

Come check out GSU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student, Madeline Davis, talk about the potential for life in the Solar System on January 29th! The talk will be at the Fernbank Science Center's Planetarium (one of the highest resolution planetariums IN THE WORLD). Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults. This ticket includes admission to the planetarium show at 7 pm 1/29/2026 AND admission to the Cosmic Conversation talk at 8 pm 1/29/2026. Purchase your tickets here: http://www.fernbank.edu/CosmicConversations.html

Did you miss ? Well, we are so back!!!

Join us next Thursday, Jan 29th to hear about "Life in the Solar System" from PhD candidate Madeline Davis at the beautiful planetarium of Fernbank Science Center. 🌌

The talk will start following a beautiful planetarium show, and you can attend both with a single ticket!

Scan the QR codes or go to the link in bio 🔗 for tix 🎟️

Time ⏰: 7-9pm
Date 📅: Jan 29th, 2025
Where 📌: Fernbank Science Center

Tags: [astronomy, space, free event, public talk, planetarium show, Atlanta, Fernbank, Georgia]

12/02/2025

Hello Everyone, there is another Cosmic Conversation at the Fernbank Science Center Planetarium this Thursday (12/4). The speaker is GSU Physics and Astronomy professor Viacheslav Sadykov. Come to learn all about the Sun's activity and space weather! You can buy your tickets at http://www.fernbank.edu/ .

is back for December!!

Join us next Thursday, Dec 4th to hear about "how's the weather in space" from Astronomy professor Dr. Viacheslav Sadykov at the beautiful planetarium of Fernbank Science Center. 🌌

Tickets: scan the QR codes or go to the link in bio 🔗

Time ⏰: 7-9pm
Date 📅: Dec 4th, 2025
Where 📌: Fernbank Science Center

Tags: [astronomy, space, free event, public talk, planetarium show, Atlanta, Fernbank, Georgia]

Address

2010 Fairplay Road
Rutledge, GA
30663

Telephone

(404) 413-6024

Website

https://physics-astro.gsu.edu/hlco/

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