Students and teachers are invited to visit McDonald Observatory remotely from home or school for incredible educational experiences. Thanks to support from Friends of the McDonald Observatory and the Meyer-Levy Charitable Foundation, these programs are available at no cost to participants.
Year End Astropalooza!
In this Webinar style presentation, join McDonald Observatory and classrooms across the country to end your school year with some Astronomy! After your students get a look at the research facility and learn why we chose this location, they'll label the major parts of a telescope and draw a live view of the sun! Questions will be accepted prior to the program (we'll send you an email!) and during the program in the chat feature. This program is geared towards grades 2-6, but any age group may find it enjoyable.
Inspire your budding scientists at our Astropalooza!
Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.
May 19, 2021 at 10am and 1pm CDT
ExciteSpace!
(for multiple schools)
ExciteSpace! Observe the Sun
K-12 students observe our Sun in real-time with a telescope, make their own drawings, and make STEM connections in astronomy.
Download Drawing Sheet and TEKS
Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.
Please Register for an May program here (use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)
(All times Central Daylight Time)
Grades PreK-4:
May 4, 2021
11:00 am
May 12, 2021
10:00 am and 2:00 pm
May 14, 2021
10:00 am
May 21, 2021
2:30 pm
Grades 3-12:
May 4, 2021
1:00 pm
May 12, 2021
1:00 pm
May 14, 2021
2:30 pm
May 21, 2021
1:00 pm
Come visit McDonald Observatory without leaving your home or classroom! Learn about Mr. McDonald, who loved nature and science. Learn about what happens here and how the astronomers use telescopes to study all kinds of things in the universe. Students will be guided on a virtual tour of the 2.1-meter Otto Struve Telescope, and we will discuss together the things that make McDonald Observatory a great place to do Astronomy.
Download TEKS
Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.
Please register for an May program here (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)
(All times Central Daylight Time)
Grades PreK-5:
May 5, 2021
11:00 am
May 21, 2021
9:30 am and 11:00 am
Grades 5-12:
May 5, 2021
1:00 pm
Explore the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, a 10 meter telescope that uses 91 mirrors to research the universe! Follow the light path from the sky through creative engineering and into the instruments. Students will take a virtual tour of the HET, including images and videos, guided by a live educator.
Download TEKS
Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.
Please register for an May program here (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)
(All times Central Daylight Time)
Grades 2-6:
May 6, 2021
1:00 pm
May 7, 2021
2:30 pm
May 18, 2021
12:00 pm
Grades 5-12:
May 6, 2021
2:00 pm
May 7, 2021
1:30 pm
May 18, 2021
2:00 pm
