Mt. Livermore WEST (8,378 feet) Sawtooth Mtn.

McDONALD VISITOR ACTIVITIES

Please check mcdonaldobservatory.org for seasonal times and up-to-date ticket prices. All programs are subject to capacity limits. To ensure tickets, we recommend you make advance reservations. Welcome to McDonald Observatory, STATION 1 — MOUNT LOCKE SUMMIT STATION 2 — MOUNT LOCKE SUMMIT Frank N. Bash Visitors Center Twilight Program the research arm of The University of Texas at Scenic Overlook West | MONET | Staff Residences | 30-inch Telescope 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday Program. It is one of the world’s Except Thanksgiving, Christmas, (Times vary) ou are now standing in front of the Walk across the street to the site and New Year’s Day The optional Twilight Program is top-ranked research , with strong Ydome of McDonald Observatory’s of the pay . Here, you are (Additional hours on Star Party nights) a one-hour educational program capabilities in observation, instrument design, first telescope. In 1926, William standing near the summit of Mount View exhibits and a video. intended to enrich the Star Party Johnson McDonald left the bulk of Locke. Local rancher Violet Locke Visit the astronomy gift shop. experience that follows. education, and public outreach. his estate to The University of Texas to McIvor donated this mountain to the establish an observatory. This telescope observatory, and it is named in honor of Daytime Solar Viewing & Tour Star Party Since its dedication in 1939, it has We invite you to visit some of these was dedicated in 1939 and is named for her grandfather. 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. daily Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday This is the McDonald Observatory pursued leading-edge research, from telescope domes and enjoy stunning (Times vary) highest public remains one of the darkest The Daytime Pass includes our the chemical abundances of stars and vistas of the on a observing sites in the road in Texas, Solar Viewing program (live, The evening viewing programs nebulae, to the atmospheres of the self-paced tour of the Observatory continental United States. at an elevation safe view of the Sun, weather held at the Visitors Center typically planets and moons of the solar system, grounds. Feel free to inquire at of 6,791 feet (2,069 meters). permitting) and a Guided Tour include constellation tours, telescope to the evolution of galaxies. Today, the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center Below and to your right is the dome of the research areas. Plan on viewing, and other presentations. it continues to pursue key topics in at the base of the Observatory for of the 30-inch (0.8-meter) telescope. at least 2 hours and 30 minutes Alternate indoor activities are held to join both programs. on cloudy evenings. astronomy and astrophysics. Among information on guided tours and Sawtooth Mountain Completed in 1970, the 30-inch many research efforts, it is instituting special programs. telescope is used for observing solar a new study of dark energy; searching To begin the tour, take Spur 78 he drawing along the top of this Far to your left and below you to system objects such as asteroids, as Solar Viewing Only StarDate Café for exoplanets and characterizing to the parking area T brochure gives the names of the your right, you will see two private well as stars, galaxies, and clusters of 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. daily Open daily MT. LOCKE SUMMIT Scenic Overlook West | MONET | Staff Residences prominent peaks around you. Look residences. There are about 70 people galaxies. It has recently been upgraded their atmospheres, orbits, and near Station 1 at the No time for the tour? Join just our Noon–5 p.m. (Su, M, W, Th) and Otto Struve Telescope (on this page) stellar environments; probing the top of Mount Locke. for the signs to help you identify who live here at the Observatory, for remote use. Solar Viewing (first 45 minutes of Noon–end of the Star Party (Tu, F, Sa) relationship between the formation of Points of interest are which landmarks are visible from each including staff members, their spouses, the Observatory’s first director, To find Station 3, follow the paved each daytime program). galaxies and their central black holes; marked along the station. Note that you may have to take and their children. Please respect Dr. Otto Struve. With a mirror 82 inches road toward the 82-inch dome. Continue and using white-dwarf stars as probes tour with signs like a few steps to either side to see some residents’ privacy while touring across (2.1 meters), it was the second- downhill and to the right of the dome. landmarks between the trees. the grounds. largest telescope in the world at that of the age and chemical evolution of the one shown. Looking out from Station 1 to your Looking down the mountainside time. Observations made with the the Milky Way galaxy. There are four marked points of right, you can spot the square top of between the two private residences, Struve Telescope have contributed to These world-class research efforts interest on Mount Locke. The fifth Mount Livermore just above the rest you will see the barn-like clamshell our understanding of the solar system, For a recorded message of seasonal information, are conducted with cutting-edge point of interest is the Hobby-Eberly of the mountains. At an elevation structure housing MONET, a 48-inch stars, galaxies, and the origin of the call toll free 1-877-984-7827. telescopes and instruments at the Telescope on Mount Fowlkes. To get of 8,378 feet (2,554 meters), it is the (1.2-meter) robotic telescope. universe. Upgraded instruments have Or visit our website: Observatory, and in collaboration there, return down Spur 78 to Spur 77. highest peak in the Davis Mountains. To find Station 2, use the sidewalk enhanced the abilities of this telescope, mcdonaldobservatory.org with other researchers and At certain times of the day, you may encounter the public guided tour (typically at Stations 3 and 4, Farther right are the jagged peaks along the summit road and continue which is still in use every clear night of Photo Credit: Damond Benningfield (cover), the lobby of the Harlan J. Smith telescope, or at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope). Feel free to listen observatories around the world. of Sawtooth Mountain. uphill to the state historical marker. the year. Ethan Tweedie Photography (all others) to the tour guide. Safety requirements force us to restrict access to the dome and we ask that you Tour continues on reverse refrain from joining the tour when it heads upstairs at the Harlan J. Smith telescope. SOUTH Black Mtn. Mount Fowlkes Mitre Peak Cathedral Mtn. Haystack Goat Mtn. Blue Mtn. Cienega Mtn. (40 miles) Mtns. (43 miles) (64 miles) (7,550 feet) (HET site)

WELCOME TO McDONALD

STATION 3 — MOUNT LOCKE SUMMIT STATION 4 — MOUNT LOCKE SUMMIT STATION 5 — MOUNT FOWLKES SUMMIT Scenic Overlook South | 36-inch Telescope Harlan J. Smith Telescope | The Astronomers Lodge Hobby-Eberly Telescope | George T. Abell Gallery OBSERVATORY VLBA Telescope Mount Fowlkes McDonald Laser Ranging Station A RESEARCH FACILITY OF ook north across the valley for a Previous page: Flags representing consortium universities stand beside the HET dome; This page: HET mirror array (left) THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Lspectacular view of Mount Fowlkes. and an Observatory technician cleans a single HET mirror (right) The silver dome to the left of the mountain’s summit is the Hobby-Eberly provide a wider field of view and to make this powerful telescope visible Telescope (HET). To the right of the carry out the Dark Energy Experiment. to the public. At the back of the gallery, summit is a small white dome, which Innovative new instruments will allow you may look onto the dome floor houses a 39-inch (1-meter) fully robotic astronomers to study hundreds of and see the telescope through the telescope that is part of the Las Cumbres galaxies with a single observation, to viewing window. Observatory Global Telescope Network. measure the chemistry of galaxies and Seven sites around the world host identical stars, and to seek out planets in other This completes your self-guided tour. We appreciate your interest in the VLBA Telescope telescopes for research and educational solar systems. McDonald Observatory and hope you use. The long reddish-orange roof of the The George T. Abell Gallery at the have enjoyed your visit. his panoramic view is one of the as Limpia Crossing, and is home Astronomers Lodge (AL) is below you. HET was made possible by generous If you have questions about the telescopes, Tmost stunning in the state of Texas. to some Observatory staff members This is where astronomers stay during donations from the Abell Hanger Observatory, or astronomy in general, the You are looking generally south toward and many amateur astronomers. observing runs. The large air conditioners ount Fowlkes is named for It was dedicated on October 8, 1997, Foundation, the Meadows Foundation, staff at the Visitors Center will be happy Marfa, Alpine, Big Bend National Park, On the valley floor, you can see the just below keep the telescope and dome Harlan J. Smith Telescope MJudge Edwin Hockaday and is operated by a consortium of four and an anonymous donor, in order to to assist you. and Mexico. white 82-foot-diameter radio telescope cool to improve image quality. Department to conduct their own Fowlkes, Sr., who donated 200 acres universities: The University of Texas Directly below you is the dome of operated by the National Radio Enter the dome of the Harlan J. Smith observations and gain experience for of his Highland Springs Ranch to at Austin, The Pennsylvania State the 36-inch (0.9-meter) telescope. Astronomy Observatory. It looks like a Telescope through the vestibule adjacent their future careers The University of Texas in 1933 to University, Lüdwig-Maximilians- The Smith Telescope This telescope has been used for many giant satellite dish. This is one of a series to Station 4. The 107-inch (2.7-meter) as scientists and help build McDonald Observatory. Universität at München (Germany), and has been involved in the research projects since its construction of telescopes that make up the Very Smith Telescope was the largest at teachers. They also South of the rock wall, you will Georg-August Universität at Göttingen McDonald Observatory discovery of many planets Beyond Fort Davis in 1956. Today, McDonald Observatory Long Baseline Array (VLBA). For more McDonald Observatory from 1969 until get to work with around other stars. see several trailers. These comprise (Germany). Five flagpoles stand tall uses it for a wide variety of public and information, see the display panel near the completion of the HET in 1997. The instrument designers the McDonald Laser Ranging in front of the HET dome. The flags McDonald Observatory is also a partner educational programs. Special Viewing the summit, uphill from Station 2. telescope was originally built to help pave and builders, further enhancing their Station, operated jointly with NASA. represent the United States and the in the Giant Magellan Telescope, a Nights are occasionally available; Behind you, you may have noticed the way for the Apollo space program and education and experience. Astronomers time laser pulses fired home states of the partners. 25-meter instrument under construction details are on our website. a large container of liquid nitrogen. NASA’s robotic missions to the planets. Explore the wall panels and videos at the Moon and more than a dozen The HET is named for higher in Chile. McDonald plans to take a leading You will also see Texas State Highway We use it to cool the instruments on New instruments have dramatically available in the lobby to learn more satellites orbiting Earth to measure education benefactors William P. Hobby, role in the development of this powerful 118 in the valley below as it snakes the telescopes, reducing heat noise increased its effectiveness and it is in about this telescope. continental drift, Earth’s rotation former lieutenant governor of Texas, and new telescope, with contributions in instrument design and other fields. between the mountains toward Fort in the data. demand by astronomers around the world. To reach Station 5, return down rate and position in space, and even Robert E. Eberly, Pennsylvania State A SELF-GUIDED TOUR Davis. A number of homes are visible To find Station 4, follow the orange This telescope and others at McDonald Spur 78 to Spur 77 and drive to the Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. University alumnus. This image(right) is a rendering ON MOUNT LOCKE AND MOUNT FOWLKES in the mountains about halfway to the railing counterclockwise around Observatory offer a fertile training summit of Mount Fowlkes following the The large silver dome is home to the The 10-meter Hobby-Eberly of the GMT. horizon. This residential area is known the dome. ground for students in the Astronomy map provided. Park along the rock wall. Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET). Telescope has been upgraded to FORT DAVIS, TEXAS