Friends of McDonald
As a Member, you can help fulfill our mission of bolstering K–12 education, by supporting the programs and resources we provide to teachers and students nationwide.
Member benefits vary by level, but all Members receive:
- One-year StarDate magazine subscription
- Shopping discounts at the Astronomy Gift Shop
- Subscription to the free monthly SkyTips email newsletter
- Free admission to the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center
Randalls and Tom Thumb supermarkets include McDonald Observatory in their Good Neighbor Program. Download the form today to make grocery shopping a more charitable task to add to your to-do list!
International Memberships: Memberships outside of the U.S. must pay an additional fee due to international postage costs for shipping the bi-monthly StarDate Magazine.
- Canada and Mexico, add $29 to standard Friends membership rate
- Europe and Asia, add $40 to standard Friends membership rate
Member Benefits
Stargazer, $50
- Personalized membership card
- Shopping discount of 10% at the McDonald Observatory Gift Shop
- Subscription to our monthly electronic newsletter, SkyTips
- Annual admission for one to the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center solar viewing and telescope tour
- Complimentary admission to nighttime Star Party
- Access to lodging at the McDonald Observatory Astronomers’ Lodge
- Annual subscription to StarDate Magazine ($26 cost not tax-deductible). Members outside the U.S. will receive a digital subscription to StarDate magazine, delivered bimonthly by email.
- Membership card for the Association of Science-Technology Centers Passport Program
Launch Team Dual, $75
Stargazer benefits for two persons
Launch Team Family, $100
Launch Team Dual benefits for up to five persons
Explorer, $175
Launch Team Family benefits, plus:
- Two individual Star Party passes to share with family and friends
- Two complimentary passes to a 107-inch Special Viewing Night
- Four complimentary Twilight Program passes
Orion Circle, $500
Explorer benefits, plus:
- Two individual daytime program passes to share with family and friends
- Two additional individual Star Party passes to share with family and friends
- Two additional passes to a 107-inch Special Viewing Night
- Four passes to a 36-inch Special Viewing Night
- Subscription to the Orion Circle newsletter
- Invitation to the annual Orion Festival hosted by the Observatory director
- Annual donor report
Orion Supernova, $1,000
Orion Circle, benefits plus:
- Four additional individual Star Party passes to share with family and friends
- Four additional individual daytime program passes to share with family and friends
- Invitations to special events as they become available
StarDate Radio same-day access to podcasts
*Benefits subject to change; reservations required for Special Viewing Night programs and Astronomers Lodge accommodations; reservations strongly encouraged for all other public programs. Please call 512.475.8843 or e-mail friends@mcdonaldobservatory.org for information.
