Visit McDonald Observatory from the comfort of your living room
Join us on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram for live views of the cosmos and the Observatory. Thanks for tuning in.
Upcoming Livestreams
October 28, 2026
8:30 p.m.
Join the McDonald Observatory and astronomer Lindsay House as we learn about dark matter and dark energy! Now at the University of Chicago, House earned her Ph.D. at UT Austin and, during that time, worked extensively on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment. Together, we will discuss the dark side of the universe, the work and research done by the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, and how you can take a glimpse at the data. On top of that, you’ll get to see live views of the cosmos from a 16-inch telescope from our Visitors Center (weather permitting).
Tune InNovember 18, 2026
7:30 p.m. CT
Do you want to get into astronomy but don’t have access to a giant research-grade telescope? No worries, you don’t need one! Join the McDonald Observatory as we show you how you can pursue astronomy from your own backyard! We will be talking about how to do different types of observing, from your eyes to telescopes; how to use constellations to navigate the sky; and (if weather permits) see some live targets through a 16-inch telescope at our Visitors Center that can be seen through smaller telescopes and even binoculars!
Tune InPast Livestreams
Below are livestreams from the past two years. Visit our YouTube channel for even more McDonald Observatory videos.