Posts by McDonald Observatory
March 22, 2016
First Discovery of a Binary Companion for a Type Ia Supernova
A team of astronomers led by The University of Texas at Austin’s Howie Marion has detected a flash of light from the companion to an exploding star. This is the first time astronomers have witnessed the impact of an exploding […]
March 11, 2016
CosmoQuest Partners, Including McDonald Observatory, Share $11.5 Million to Expand Astronomy Outreach Programs
The CosmoQuest virtual research facility has been awarded an $11.5 million NASA grant to continue working with the public to explore the universe. The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory is partnering with CosmoQuest on the project. Launched in 2012, CosmoQuest […]
February 24, 2016
Newly Discovered Planet in the Hyades Cluster Could Shed Light on Planetary Evolution
University of Texas at Austin astronomer Andrew Mann and colleagues have discovered a planet in a nearby star cluster which could help astronomers better understand how planets form and evolve. The discovery of planet K2-25b used both the Kepler space […]
December 9, 2015
High School Student Helps Discover New Planet, Calculates Frequency of Jupiter-like Planets
High school senior Dominick Rowan of Armonk, New York, is making discoveries about other worlds. Working with University of Texas at Austin astronomer Stefano Meschiari, Rowan has helped to find a Jupiter-like planet and has calculated that this type of […]
December 7, 2015
Texas Astronomer Solves Mystery of ‘Born Again’ Stars with Hubble Space Telescope
University of Texas astronomer Natalie Gosnell has used Hubble Space Telescope to better understand why some stars aren’t evolving as predicted. These so-called “blue stragglers” look hotter and bluer than they should for their advanced age. It’s almost as if […]
November 19, 2015
Early Galaxies More Efficient at Making Stars, Hubble Survey Reveals
A study published in today’s Astrophysical Journal by University of Texas at Austin assistant professor Steven Finkelstein and colleagues reveals that galaxies were more efficient at making stars when the universe was younger. The announcement explains the team’s discovery, announced in the […]
November 11, 2015
Giant Magellan Telescope, World’s Largest, Breaks Ground in Chilean Desert
Leaders and supporters from The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory, along with representatives from an international group of partner universities and research institutions, are gathering on a remote mountaintop high in the Chilean Andes today to celebrate groundbreaking […]
November 2, 2015
Upgraded Hobby-Eberly Telescope Sees First Light
After several years and a massive team effort, one of the world’s largest telescopes has opened its giant eye again. The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory has completed a $25 million upgrade and, […]
August 26, 2015
Dying Stars Suffer from ‘Irregular Heartbeats’
Some dying stars suffer from ‘irregular heartbeats,’ research led by astronomers at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Warwick has discovered. The team discovered rapid brightening events — outbursts — in two otherwise normal pulsating white […]
July 23, 2015
Texas Astronomers Help Find Earth’s Older, Bigger Cousin
University of Texas at Austin astronomers working with NASA’s Kepler mission have helped to discover the first near-Earth-sized planet around a Sun-like star in the “habitable zone,” the range of distances where liquid water could pool on a planet’s surface. […]
June 2, 2015
UT Austin, International Partners Approve Start of Construction for Giant Magellan Telescope
The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) has announced a major milestone recently with 11 international partners including The University of Texas at Austin unanimously approving its construction, securing the future of the project with more than $500 million to begin work […]
April 9, 2015
McDonald Observatory’s Andrew Mann Wins Prestigious Hubble Fellowship
Astronomer Andrew Mann of The University of Texas at Austin has been awarded a Hubble Fellowship from NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute, science center for the Hubble Space Telescope. “It is an honor to receive the Hubble Fellowship, and I […]
January 27, 2015
Astronomers Discover Ancient Solar System with Five Earth-sized Planets
A team of scientists including The University of Texas at Austin’s Dr. William Cochran has discovered a solar system similar to our own dating back to the dawn of our Milky Way galaxy. They are reporting the find of five planets with […]
January 5, 2015
Craig Nance is New Superintendent of McDonald Observatory
Craig Nance begins his tenure as Superintendent of McDonald Observatory today. The Superintendent is the on-site manager of the Observatory. “Craig brings strong management experience, extensive engineering background, love of astronomy, and excellent performance in a very similar position,” at […]
October 10, 2014
McDonald Observatory Astronomers Advise National Research Council
Astronomers from McDonald Observatory are providing input to the National Research Council (NRC) on a variety of topics in response to a community-wide request from the council in late August. The NRC has a committee on optical and infrared astronomy […]