Why is the McDonald Observatory closed?
McDonald Observatory is announcing today that it will remain closed to the public beyond the previously announced date, April 19, based on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s March 31 executive order extending school closures and other mitigation measures into May due to the continuing public health crisis posed by the COVID- …
Can you look through telescope at McDonald Observatory?
Join a Guided Tour for an up-close look at large research telescopes at McDonald Observatory in West Texas. A Guided Tour Pass includes access to the exhibit gallery and gift shop inside the Visitors Center and a guided tour of our large research telescopes (approximately 90-120-minutes).
Can you camp at McDonald Observatory?
Are there RV hook-ups and/or camping facilities at the Observatory? The Observatory is a University of Texas research facility and is not associated with the State/National Park systems. Overnight camping/RVing on Observatory grounds is NOT permitted.
What is the McDonald Observatory known for?
Astronomers at McDonald Observatory have discovered an unusually massive black hole in at the heart of one of the Milky Way’s satellite galaxies that could signal changes in our understanding of galaxy evolution.
How big is the McDonald Observatory?
With its 11-meter (433-inch) mirror, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) is one of the world’s largest optical telescopes. It was designed specifically for spectroscopy, the decoding of light from stars and galaxies to study their properties.
When was the McDonald Observatory built?
McDonald Observatory, observatory founded in 1939 by the University of Texas, on the legacy of the Texas financier William J. McDonald, on Mount Locke near Fort Davis, Texas.
What mountain range is the McDonald Observatory?
McDonald Observatory is located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, 450 miles west of its research and administrative home at The University of Texas at Austin, under some of the darkest skies in the continental United States.
How many telescopes does the McDonald Observatory have?
four
Currently, the observatory operates four research telescopes at its West Texas site: 10 m (390 in) Hobby-Eberly Telescope on Mt. Fowlkes. 2.7 m (107 in) Harlan J.
Who built McDonald Observatory?
Harlan J. Smith was the first University of Texas director of McDonald Observatory, and served simultaneously as chair of the new astronomy department in Austin. Among many other accomplishments, he led the construction on the 107-inch telescope that now bears his name.
How big is the telescope at McDonald Observatory?
Constructed 1966-68, the Smith Telescope has a 2.7-meter (107-inch) mirror, which was the third largest in the world when built. The telescope is used every clear night of the year.
What city is McDonald’s observatory?
Who owns the McDonald Observatory?
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), dedicated in late 1997, is located on the summit of Mt. Fowlkes at 2,030 m (6,660 ft) above sea level. It is operated jointly by the University of Texas at Austin, Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and Georg-August University of Göttingen.