Posts by McDonald Observatory
November 19, 2007
Astronomers Discover Sun’s Twin at McDonald Observatory
Peruvian astronomers Jorge Melendez of The Australian National University and Ivan Ramirez of The University of Texas at Austin have discovered the best “solar twin” to date, using the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. Their findings suggest […]
November 19, 2007
University of Texas at Austin Astronomy Student Wins Rhodes Scholarship
Sarah Miller, an astronomy and physics major who will graduate in May from The University of Texas at Austin, was recently selected as a Rhodes Scholar for 2008. She is one of 32 students in America to be honored with […]
October 10, 2007
Most Powerful Supernova Ever: Found with Mini, Monumental McDonald Observatory Telescopes
Astronomer Robert Quimby has done it again. Found the most luminous supernova ever, that is. Quimby discovered the current record holder, supernova 2006gy, last year as part of his Texas Supernova Search project. Now he announces that a supernova he […]
October 9, 2007
Consortium Selects Site in Chile for Future Giant Magellan Telescope
The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory and Texas A&M University department of Physics have announced that the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Consortium has decided to build the GMT at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Las Campanas is operated […]
September 4, 2007
‘Astronomy Day from McDonald Observatory’ Will Reach Thousands of Texas Middle-School Students
The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory will hold three state-wide, interactive videoconferences with Texas students on Friday, Sept. 14, in celebration of Astronomy Day. The event is called “Astronomy Day from McDonald Observatory.” It aims to teach Texas […]
July 26, 2007
University of Texas at Austin Astronomer Shares $500,000 International Cosmology Prize
University of Texas at Austin post-doctoral fellow Robert Quimby is among a group of scientists to receive this year’s Gruber Prize for Cosmology for the discovery that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. The mysterious force behind the […]
July 8, 2007
Hobby-Eberly Telescope Helps Astronomers Learn Secrets of One of Universe’s Most Distant Objects
Astronomers have used the 9.2-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory to confirm one of the most distant known objects in the universe. The object is a quasar — an extremely bright galaxy nucleus powered by matter falling into a […]
June 8, 2007
McDonald Observatory Thanks Employees for Dedicated Service
McDonald Observatory honored long-time employees for their years of service with an Employee Appreciation Dinner on May 23. Receiving recognition were: Jimmy Salcido (30 years) Marian Frueh (25 years) Mark Blackley (20 years) Barbara Dominguez (20 years) Jerry Martin (20 […]
May 23, 2007
Astronomers Discover Multi-Planet System; May Alter Theories of Planet Formation
University of Texas at Austin astronomers William Cochran and Michael Endl, working with graduate students Robert Wittenmyer and Jacob Bean, have used the 9.2-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory to discover a system of two Jupiter-like planets orbiting a […]
May 10, 2007
Texas Astronomer Finds Six ‘Cosmic Clocks’ in Star Born Soon After Big Bang
How old are the oldest stars? An international team of astronomers led by Dr. Anna Frebel of The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory recently measured the age of an ancient star in our Milky Way galaxy at an […]
May 7, 2007
Free Fun for All at McDonald Observatory Open House This Saturday
Y’all come to McDonald Observatory’s Open House on Saturday, May 12! Everyone is welcome, and admission and all programs will be free to the public that day. We’ve got a full slate of activities, starting at 10 a.m. and running […]
April 16, 2007
Don Wallace is New Site Superintendent for McDonald Observatory
The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory welcomes Don Wallace as superintendent at its West Texas site near Fort Davis. Wallace brings a wealth of management experience to the Observatory, both from a career in the U.S. Army and […]
April 5, 2007
Texas Astronomers Achieve Major Improvement in Cosmic Distance Scale with Hubble Telescope
An international team of astronomers led by Fritz Benedict and Barbara McArthur of The University of Texas at Austin has used Hubble Space Telescope to solve one of biggest problems in measuring the universe’s expansion. The results of their in-depth […]
February 26, 2007
AEP Foundation Grants $30K to McDonald Observatory
The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation has granted $30,000 to The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory to provide teacher training in astronomy and Earth science to elementary and secondary teachers in Texas. McDonald Observatory has been holding professional […]