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GMT with guide stars

Donation to UT will Help Expand View of the Universe

David Booth, co-founder and executive chairman of Austin-based Dimensional Fund Advisors, has committed a $10 million gift to help fund the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope. Once completed, it will be the world’s largest telescope and have the capability to provide unprecedented views of the universe.

Kepler Space Telescope

Two New Planets Discovered Using Artificial Intelligence

Texas astronomers, in partnership with Google, have used artificial intelligence to uncover two more hidden planets in the Kepler space telescope archive.

New Instrument Enables Discovery of Planets Around Cool Stars

The new Habitable Zone Planet Finder can detect planets capable of having liquid water on their surfaces orbiting nearby cool stars called red dwarfs. 

StarDate Radio Celebrates 40 Years

The longest running nationally aired science program is marking a major milestone. “StarDate”  radio, produced by The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory, celebrates 40 years on the nation’s airwaves.

White Dwarf Interior

Stars Observed Turning into Crystals for the First Time

The first direct evidence of crystallized white dwarf stars has been discovered by an international team of researchers including UT Austin's Bart Dunlap. Predicted half a century ago,  evidence of these stars will be published tomorrow in the journal Nature.