Currently up to 100,000 visitors each year participate in the variety of public observing activities conducted at the Visitors Center Public Observatory, including Solar Viewing and Star Party programs. Many of the instruments available for public use were donated to the facility by individuals, companies, and institutions seeking to promote interest in astronomy.

Large groups planning on visiting the Observatory and/or joining any of our public programs should notify the Visitors Center prior to the visit.

The Visitors Center is open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M (additional hours on Star Party nights), and closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

DRESS WARMLY!!! Temperatures vary quite a bit at our elevation (6,300-6,800 feet above sea level) and are usually much cooler than other areas of Texas. The mountain air can cool as much as 20 degrees after sunset and most of the Star Party program takes place outside under the stars. For summer make sure you bring at least a light jacket and long pants. For Fall, Winter, and early Spring programs, layer your attire and bring a warm coat, thermals, gloves, and something to keep your head warm.

• Explore the "Decoding Starlight" Exhibit Hall at the Visitors Center and enjoy various astronomical presentations in our multimedia theater.
• See our nearest star, the Sun, from the comfort of our multimedia theater during our Solar Viewing program. View sunspots, flares, and prominences safely as they happen live. In the event of cloudy conditions, we will provide video of the above, taken with our telescopes.
• Join our Guided Tour for an up-close look at large research telescopes at McDonald Observatory. The 90-minute tours are led by knowledgeable guides who will give you insight into the workings of a professional scientific research facility. A portion of the Tour takes place outside, so please dress appropriately. Even during summer, wind at the summit can make a warm day seem unpleasantly cool.

RESERVATIONS ARE NEITHER REQUIRED NOR ACCEPTED FOR DAILY PROGRAMS.

Passes must be purchased at our Visitors Center. Program availability is limited, so please arrive at least 15-30 minutes before programs begin. Although reservations are not taken, passes can be purchased as early as 10:00 A.M. on the day of the program. Due to research and maintenance requirements, tour content may vary.

Discounted passes are available for seniors (65+), military personnel, and University of Texas System faculty, staff, and students.

Self Guided Tours of our largest telescope, the 362" Hobby-Eberly Telescope, are available at no charge from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily.

Interested in setting up a private tour or viewing for your group? Check out our Private Programs page.

Take a Virtual Tour with your Web browser!

• Enjoy a tour of the constellations and view the moon, planets, stars, galaxies, and other objects through large telescopes at our Visitors Center Public Observatory. The program is fun for the entire family, and is open to everyone. In the event of rain, significant clouds, or high winds/dust/humidity, a series of unique indoor presentations will stimulate your interest and curiosity; refunds due to inclement weather are not available. The StarDate Café and Gift Shop open one hour before the Star Party.

RESERVATIONS ARE NEITHER REQUIRED NOR ACCEPTED FOR STAR PARTIES.

Spend the day with us and get both passes for a reduced rate:

DRESS WARMLY!!! Temperatures vary quite a bit at our elevation (6,300-6,800 feet above sea level) and are usually much cooler than other areas of Texas. The mountain air can cool as much as 20 degrees after sunset and most of the Star Party program takes place outside under the stars. For summer make sure you bring at least a light jacket and long pants. For Fall, Winter, and early Spring programs, layer your attire and bring a warm coat, thermals, gloves, and something to keep your head warm.

When should I visit for a Star Party?
Although there is no single best answer to this question, one of the more important things to keep in mind is the phase of the Moon. With the Moon at any phase between several days before First Quarter and 3 or 4 days past Full, bright moonlight limits our ability to observe faint objects but, of course, gives us great views of the Moon itself.

At the U.S Naval Observatory data service site, you can find lists of dates of the four major moon phases to help you make your plans.

Twilight Program

Our Twilight Program is an engaging, 60-70 minute learning experience which takes place on Star Party nights only, one and a half hours before the Star Party begins. This program is separate from and does not include the Star Party, although you may do both if you wish...most people do.

In our current Lost in Space Twilight Program, you will learn how to use a standard star chart to find bright stars, constellations, and planets. The ticket price includes a red LED keychain flashlight that you can keep.

This program is great for all ages. Dress warmly...some of this program takes place outdoors.

Ticket prices for the Twilight Program vary with program content; tickets for our current program are $6.00 in addition to Star Party. Introduced several years ago, the Twilight Program has become more and more popular ... to the point that it is now occasionally selling out. Seating for this program is limited so plan to purchase your passes early.

Special Viewing Nights

Dinner and a Viewing on the 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope
Our best viewing program!

Looking through the historic 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope, it's easy to imagine yourself floating in space, viewing celestial objects as if you could simply reach out and touch them. In reality, these objects are typically hundreds, thousands, or even millions of light years away but easily brought into sharp focus by the incredible light-gathering power of the 82-inch telescope. The views through this telescope are truly spectacular ... if you're looking for telescope views that will take your breath away, this is the program for you. Observe planets, nebulae, galaxies and other deep sky objects through one of the largest telescopes in the world available to the public. Also, this program is typically scheduled for nights free of bright moonlight giving us excellent views of the night sky. Seating is very limited, so early reservations are strongly encouraged. Come hungry, as dinner is included. You'll enjoy a top notch dinner in the StarDate Café or the Astronomers Lodge before the viewing program begins.

Scheduled dates and times for this program will vary from month to month, and reservations are required typically months ahead of time. The 82" viewing program is approximately 4-5 hours in length, including dinner (if applicable).

Dinner and a Viewing on the 107" Harlan J. Smith Telescope

One night a month, typically on the Wednesday nearest the full moon, the 107-inch Harlan J. Smith Telescope is opened for public viewing. A special dinner will also be provided to all participants, and will be served at the Visitors Center's StarDate Café or Astronomers Lodge before seating at the 107" dome floor. In addition to the view through the telescope, the professional astronomer using the telescope speaks about their research project and answers questions. A demonstration of spectroscopy (one of the many techniques used by research astronomers to learn about the universe) is given by the Visitors Center staff to offer the program participants a glimpse into how research is conducted at McDonald Observatory. Viewing Night on the 107" is typically a 4 hour program from dinner time to conclusion.

Scheduled dates for this program vary from month to month, and due to limited seating on the observing floor, early reservations are encouraged particularly for the Spring and Summer months.

Special Viewing Night on the 36" Telescope

Dedicated in 1956, the 36-inch Telescope near the top of Mt. Locke remains a powerful window on the universe. Its long focus allows for awesome views of the planets as well as excellent, high contrast views of deep space objects like globular clusters, planetary nebulae, and galaxies. Although not our largest telescope open for public viewing, the 36-inch has the great advantage of the Visitors Center potentially securing more nights for public programs than on either the 82-inch or the 107-inch while still providing excellent views. Join us for a 36-inch Special Viewing Night and we're sure you'll agree!

Dates available

Can't decide which Special Viewing Night is for you?

The Dinner and a Viewing on the 107" is designed to give you insight into the tools and methods of astronomical research. You'll have contact with a professional researcher and will look through the 107" telescope at two objects. This program may not be suitable for children under ten.

The Dinner and a Viewing on the 82" is all about, well...viewing! This is the best program if you're primarily interested in getting a spectacular view through a very large telescope. We typically observe 9-10 objects, normally under much darker conditions than the 107-inch nights. This program may not be suitable for children under ten.

Special Viewing Night on the 36" is our most casual viewing program. Not only will you get fabulous views through a large telescope, but you'll also have more opportunity to marvel at our dark skies since we won't be in a large dome that obscures most of the sky. This allows us to conduct a "constellation tour" for the participants. Best of all, since this telescope isn't used as much for research as are the 107" and 82" telescopes, we have more access for a wide variety of special programs. This program may not be suitable for young children.

Our public Star Parties, held every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, are great for those with young children and don't require reservations.

If you're still having trouble, call us at (432) 426-3640 and we'll be happy to assist you!