When I first saw it.

I first saw the 82-inch telescope when I came to work here in 2000. I thought it was the most beautiful instrument I'd ever seen. It reminded me of the old pictures of astronomers working at Mount Wilson.

I was so disapponted to find out tours were not done there, because when people think of a grand old telescope, I'm sure THIS is what they would think of. To this day, when visitors ask me "What's the coolest thing you've ever seen here at McDonald?" I still say "Saturn through the 82-inch telescope."