Entry No. 66 — the New Orleans file — filed under: after-dark
Gretna Observatory at Mel Ott Park
The largest public observatory in greater New Orleans hides inside a 16-foot rotating dome on the West Bank in Gretna, run by the City of Gretna with Pontchartrain Astronomy Society volunteers. Its computer-controlled 16-inch telescope can pull in nebulae, star clusters, double stars, distant galaxies and whichever planets are up that season. It only opens Monday and Wednesday evenings, and only when the sky is clear, which makes a good night feel earned. Admission is free.
The story
You’ll find it at 1 Copernicus Street—yes, that is the actual street address—hiding right inside Mel Ott Park on the West Bank. Most folks driving past think of Mel Ott as just municipal recreation fields and a public pool. But tucked away under a 16-foot rotating dome sits the largest public observatory in the greater New Orleans area.
The venue is a joint effort between the City of Gretna and volunteers from the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society. At the center of the dome is a computer-controlled 16-inch telescope capable of pulling in Saturn's rings, binary star systems, glowing nebulae, and deep-sky galaxies millions of light-years out. You aren't looking at a pre-recorded digital feed on a screen; you're standing in the dark taking turns at an eyepiece while a local astronomy enthusiast rotates the dome slit and talks you through the sky.
Because it opens only two nights a week—and shuts down entirely if the clouds roll in—a clear night feels earned rather than guaranteed. There’s no admission fee, no glossy visitor center, and zero tourist-trap markup. It’s just genuine stargazing tucked into a quiet West Bank neighborhood park.
What it's like
Expect a grassroots, community-run operation with zero commercial fuss. You’ll swing by on a clear Monday or Wednesday night, climb up to the dome, and wait your turn while volunteers calibrate the 16-inch scope. The atmosphere is intimate and informal, but the schedule hinges entirely on cloud cover. If the sky looks even remotely questionable, call (504) 363-1597 before crossing the river to verify they're actually opening the dome.
The move: Show up on a clear Monday or Wednesday night and take turns at the eyepiece of the big 16-inch scope, letting the volunteers point it at Saturn's rings or a faraway galaxy.
📍 Before you go Open only Monday and Wednesday nights, weather permitting (roughly 8:30-11 PM summer, 7-10 PM winter). Free. Call ahead at (504) 363-1597 on cloudy evenings.
- 📍 Metairie
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 1 Copernicus Street, Gretna, LA 70053
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Prytania Theatre Midnight Movies — Pair an early evening of West Bank stargazing with a late-night screening across the river at Louisiana's oldest single-screen cinema.
- Escape My Room — Spend the late afternoon solving elaborate local mystery puzzles inside a former funeral home before heading over to Gretna for dark-sky viewing.
- LUNA Fête — If you're visiting in winter, combine real planetary observation with Downtown's annual light art festival.
Good to know
How much does admission cost?
It is completely free to visit.
What are the operating hours?
It opens only on Monday and Wednesday evenings, weather permitting. Hours run roughly 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the winter and 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM in the summer.
How do I check if it's open on a cloudy night?
Because the dome stays closed in bad weather, call (504) 363-1597 on overcast evenings to confirm if volunteers are on-site before you make the drive.
What will I see through the telescope?
Depending on the night and season, the 16-inch telescope targets planets like Saturn, star clusters, double stars, nebulae, and distant galaxies.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · explorelouisiana.com · visitjeffersonparish.com
last checked: 2026-06-23