One of the country's major astronomical research institutions, McDonald Observatory has four impressive telescopes. The largest--the 9.2 m (30 ft) Hobby-Eberly telescope--ranks amongst the largest in the world. Stop by the observatory visitor center to see the staff in action and learn more about their projects and programs, as well as the science of space. Join a guided tour for inside access, or even watch live telescopic images of the sun during a solar viewing session. Be sure to book ahead online, however, as tickets can sell out very quickly. Set at an elevation of 2,070 m (6,790 ft) in the mountains of West Texas, the observatory is part of the University of Texas at Austin, and works closely with its science departments. Plan my trip to Fort Davis with suggested itineraries provided by Inspirock.
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McDonald Observatory reviews
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We were two of 12 participants on a Special Viewing Night with the 82inch telescope. On these events you are dependent on the weather, and we were fortunate to have clear skies and good viewing. Our.... more
We were two of 12 participants on a Special Viewing Night with the 82inch telescope. On these events you are dependent on the weather, and we were fortunate to have clear skies and good viewing. Our.... more »
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Awesome views from the Observatory. We went to a star party,but it was partly cloudy. They did their best to make it worthwhile. They had several telescopes set up to view constellations and planets. Very cool.
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The star party was terrific! Every time I looked away from the sky and looked back, there were more stars! The staff was excellent, and we're very friendly. They were very knowledgeable and made it a fun experience. I highly recommend everyone to go at least once. It's such a breathtaking experience to get away from the city and see many stars. I look forward to coming back in the summer to see something different.
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