Continuing education credits
The professional development program focuses on astronomy skills and hands-on inquiry based activities that provide SBEC Continuing Professional Education credits.

Astronomy skills
Have fun learning astronomy while taking advantage of the special opportunities to explore the unique research facilities and dark skies of McDonald Observatory. View the Sun through specially filtered telescopes and participate in a sunspot activity that you can take back to your classroom. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of McDonald Observatory telescopes, meet astronomers, and learn about the diverse careers and the people that live and work at an observatory. Learn to read and use a star map and then sharpen your skills during an evening of viewing using professional quality telescopes such as the famous Struve 2.1-meter telescope that established McDonald Observatory in 1937.

Hands-on inquiry based activities
K-5: Observe and track the apparent motion of the Sun and model the day-night cycle. Build a reflective solar cooker and experiment to find the best cooking conditions. Transform into a planet and orbit the Sun in step with other orbiting planets, moons, and asteroids. Make colorful travel brochures to a favorite solar system destination. Perform activities that explore fundamental concepts of Earth's spherical shape, gravity, and lenses.

6-8: Build a Sundial and a solar cooker to investigate the Sun's apparent motion and the energy its light carries to Earth. Through several solar system activities, build a scale model of the solar system, become a planet and orbit the Sun, and research characteristics of planets. Invent rock cycles for other planets. Discover the orbits of Jupiter's moons or investigate a mysterious substance called "Oobleck." Beyond the solar system, discover the color, size, and temperatures of stars.

9-12: Become part of a human model of McDonald Observatory's Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the largest telescope in Texas and one of the largest in the world. Compare construction, pricing, and structural design to more traditional telescope designs. Experiment with optic fibers, build a hand-held spectroscope, and explore the ways astronomers use these tools to learn about stars, planets, and galaxies.

Program details
Programs will run throughout the year. The dates of programs and activity times are flexible according to your needs. Although nighttime observing is an rewarding experience, one day programs can be arranged without the nighttime observing component. Programs available for groups of 8-24.

2 day/1 night to 4 day/3 night
Short programs will occur during the school year. Extended programs will be available during the summer, and will give an opportunity to explore topics in greater depth.

Facilities

CLASSROOM
A lab-style room with advanced audio and video capabilities. The classroom will host most of the hands-on activities.

DECODING STARLIGHT EXHIBIT
A hands-on exhibit to lead you through the secrets hidden in spectra

ASTRONOMY PARK
Two large-aperture telescopes and a large outdoor amphitheater.

THEATER
90 seats with state-of-the-art audio and video technology for presenting video, animation, and web sites that compliment the hands-on activities

HOBBY-EBERLY TELESCOPE
The largest telescope in Texas and third largest in the world

HARLAN J. SMITH 2.7-METER TELESCOPE AND OTTO STRUVE 2.1-METER TELESCOPE
Large research telescopes used every clear night of the year

MEALS AND LODGING
Meals and lodging are available at McDonald Observatory and/or in nearby Fort Davis for pre-arranged groups.

Contact information for reservations
Brad Armosky, Science Educator
(512) 475-8844, bja@astro.as.utexas.edu

Marc Wetzel, Education Coordinator
(432) 426-3640, wetzel@astro.as.utexas.edu

Email questions to: info@mcdonaldobservatory.org