Constructed 1966-68, the Harlan J. Smith Telescope has a 107-inch (2.7-meter) mirror, which was the third largest in the world when built. The telescope is used every clear night of the year.

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Smith Telescope with Stars

Stars shine in an inky night sky above the open dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. Credit: Bill Nowlin Photography

Smith Telescope with Sunrise

The Sun rises behind the open dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope in this panoramic view. Credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography

Smith Telescope with Star Trails

Star trails zoom past the dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography

Smith Telescope Interior

Inside the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Credit: Michael Ortiz

Harlan J. Smith Telescope

A meteor and the Milky Way above the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Image credit: Virginia L. Montgomery

Smith Telescope with Open Dome

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. Credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography

Smith Telescope with Colorful Clouds

Colorful clouds pass behind the open dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. The Hobby-Eberly Telescope is visible atop Mt. Fowlkes in the background at left. Credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography

Working on IGRINS

Graduate student Kyle Kaplan works on the IGRINS instrument mounted on the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography

IGRINS

The IGRINS instrument sits inside the dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. IGRINS stands for Immersion Grating Infrared Spectrometer. Credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography

Harlan J. Smith

Harlan J. Smith (1924-1991) served as director of McDonald Observatory from 1963 to 1989. He was the first University of Texas director, after a partnership with the University of Chicago's Yerkes Observatory ended. Among many other accomplishments, he initiated the construction of the 2.7-meter (107-inch) telescope at McDonald that now bears his name. Credit: McDonald Observatory

Harlan J. Smith Telescope

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Image credit: Daniel Bradford and Lonny Stern

Harlan J. Smith Telescope Interior

Graduate student Zoe Hackshaw maneuvers the telescope. Image credit: Michael Ortiz