McDonald Observatory offers a spectacular setting for teacher workshops in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.
Workshops include telescope tours, discussions with resident researchers, and nighttime observations. Educators experience inquiry-based activities aligned with science and mathematics teaching standards, practice astronomy skills under the Observatory’s dark skies, and work with nationally recognized astronomy educators. Participants receive Continuing Professional Education credits.
Upcoming Workshops
Solar System and Beyond!
Dates: January 16-18, 2026
Applications due: December 5, 2025
Participants will be notified by December 17, 2025
For teachers of grades 3-9
10-12 Continuing Education Units
Cost: This workshop is supported by grants and endowments that cover lodging, meals, and workshop materials. The only expense for participants is their travel.
In this hands-on, immersive workshop, you will be able to explore the wonder of our own Solar System and what lies beyond. During this workshop, you will participate in various astronomy activities and build your own Galileoscopes. In addition, you will get to tour McDonald Observatory and learn how astronomers use our research telescopes to explore the universe and make ground-breaking discoveries. We also offer viewing of the night sky through telescopes located at the Visitors Center.
The workshop will begin with dinner at the Observatory’s Astronomers Lodge at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 16. After dinner, participants will meet in the Visitors Center classroom for introductions, a short activity, and will then proceed to the public Star Party. On Saturday, January 17, we will begin with a tour of one of our large research telescopes; continue the day engaged in classroom activities, learning more about telescopes; and end at night with a private Star Party, weather permitting. We will end the workshop on Sunday by reflecting what we saw and learn before heading back home.
About Onsite Workshops
Onsite workshops take place over four days at McDonald Observatory in West Texas, beginning in the evening of the first day, and ending at noon on the last day. Participants are provided with housing, either at the Astronomers’ Lodge on Mount Locke or in other local lodging facilities. Lodging will be in single occupancy rooms. The $100 workshop fee (where applicable) covers your portion of the cost of room, meals, and workshop materials. Payment is due upon acceptance in order to reserve a place in the workshop. Teachers are responsible for their own transportation to and from McDonald Observatory.
All programs include both day and night instructional sessions, materials, daytime tours, evening observing (weather permitting), lodging and meals. Please be aware that some of the telescope observing activities will last until late hours.
