Discovery of Unexpected Ultra-Massive Galaxies May Not Rewrite Cosmology, But Still Leaves Questions

Discovery of Ultra-Massive Galaxies May Not Rewrite Cosmology

Ever since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured its first glimpse of the early Universe, astronomers have been taken aback by the presence of what appear to be more “ultra-massive” galaxies than expected. Based on the most widely accepted cosmological model, they shouldn’t have been able to evolve until much later in the history of the Universe, spurring claims that the model needs to be changed. 

This would upend decades of established science.

LightSound Workshops Make April’s Eclipse More Accessible to Visually Impaired

LightSound Workshops Make April’s Eclipse More Accessible

Through a series of workshops held January 28 and 29 by the LightSound Project and with the support of the UT Austin Department of Astronomy, the University community built 140 LightSound devices. By converting light into sound, these handheld devices make solar eclipses more accessible to the blind and low vision community.

Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Night of December 13/14

Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Night of December 13/14

This will be a great year to view the Geminid meteor shower. It is expected to peak the night of December 13/14. That is close to the new moon on December 12, meaning there will be little moonlight to interfere with the show. The full duration of the Geminids is November 19 to December 24.

The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year, with up to 120 meteors an hour visible under optimal viewing conditions. Geminid meteors are slow-moving, bright, and abundant, making the shower a fan favorite.

Teacher Workshops at McDonald Observatory

Teacher Workshops at McDonald Observatory

For over 20 years, McDonald Observatory has offered a spectacular setting and enriching content for teacher professional development. In summer 2023, we hosted five onsite workshops, complete with telescope tours, discussions with resident researchers, and nighttime observations.

In total, 72 teachers joined us for these workshops. Most traveled from cities across Texas, but we also had participants from Oklahoma, New Mexico, California, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, DC, Maryland, and Kentucky.

McDonald Observatory Celebrates October Solar Eclipse

McDonald Observatory Celebrates October Solar Eclipse

On Saturday, October 14, Texans experienced a rare and beautiful annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse. It swept into the state from the border of New Mexico and exited by way of the Coastal Bend. Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi were all witness to the annular eclipse. The whole state was able to see a partial eclipse.

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