Observatory
The University of Texas McDonald Observatory, located near Fort Davis in the Davis Mountains of West Texas at an altitude of 6,800 feet, was founded from a large bequest by Texas banker William Johnson McDonald in 1926.
Construction began in the early 1930s, and the observatory was officially dedicated in 1939 with its prominent 2.1-meter reflector telescope, which was then the second largest in the world. Initially operated jointly with the University of Chicago, the observatory became fully managed by the University of Texas at Austin in the 1960s. The McDonald Observatory is renowned for its major contributions to astronomy, including discoveries of planets and moons in our Solar System, and it continues to conduct advanced research on stars, galaxies, and dark energy.
The site sits on 650 acres of land donated and purchased from local ranches and offers public programs with night sky tours, making it a key center for both scientific study and public education on astronomy.
| Phone | +1 432-426-3640 |
| Opened | 1933 |
| Address | 3640 Dark Sky Dr, Fort Davis, TX 79734, United States |
| Telescopes | Frank N. Bash Visitors Center; Harlan J. Smith Telescope; Hobby–Eberly Telescope; Otto Struve Telescope |
University of Texas McDonald Observatory is located in Texas, United States.
University of Texas McDonald Observatory is situated in the state of Texas.
The main phone number for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory is +1 432-426-3640.
The address of University of Texas McDonald Observatory is 3640 Dark Sky Dr, Fort Davis, TX 79734, United States.
Yes, University of Texas McDonald Observatory is family-friendly and attracts visitors of all age groups.
Visitors usually spend a few hours to a full day exploring University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
Yes, there are several hotels and accommodations near University of Texas McDonald Observatory in Texas.
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