In this aerial view, the two large domes in the foreground are the 2.1-meter Str

You're invited! Come to our April 26 Open House

Join us for a day-long celebration of 75 years of discovery. We'll have science talks, telescope viewings, face painting, demonstrations, and more. All events are free, but some require reservations. Be sure to book your seats!

Regents Authorize $50 Million for UT Austin Share in GMT

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Friday authorized UT Austin to spend $50 million to participate in building the Giant Magellan Telescope project, which will be the world’s largest telescope when it’s completed in 2020. The project will give students, researchers and faculty the opportunity to make groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy.
Taft Armandroff

Taft Armandroff to be Director of McDonald Observatory

Astronomer Taft Armandroff has been appointed the new director of the McDonald Observatory. Currently director of the W. M. Keck Observatory, located on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, Armandroff will join the observatory in June. He will succeed current director David Lambert.
HET w/crane

HET Upgrade Under Way

Engineers and astronomers are working on upgrading the Hobby-Eberly Telescope in preparation to begin the HET Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX). Read about the telescope upgrade, and find out more about HETDEX, a project to study one of the most fundamental mysteries in science today. (Photo by David Doss/McDonald Observatory)

Celebrate Our 75th!

Celebrate Our 75th!

Share your memories and see what we're planning around Texas. 

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In the Sky

Apr 25: 61 Virginis

61 Virginis is one of the nearest star systems with known planets. Under dark skies, the star is bright enough to see with the unaided eye. It is a little below Spica, Virgo’s brightest star, which is due south a couple of hours after sunset.

More stargazing »