McDonald Observatory

The McDonald Observatory sits in the Davis Mountains at an elevation of 2077 meters (6800 feet) and houses four research telescopes used for astronomical observations and scientific studies. The visitor center provides exhibition spaces and a viewing platform where you can see the telescope domes during daylight hours.

Texas banker William Johnson McDonald provided one million dollars in 1926 to fund the construction of this research facility for the University of Texas. The first telescopes were installed during the 1930s and the facility expanded its instruments over the following decades.

Its location far from city lights offers some of the darkest skies in North America for viewing celestial objects. Visitors gather at evening sessions to look through telescopes and see planets, star clusters, and nebulae guided by astronomers who explain what appears in the eyepiece.

The road to reach the site climbs through winding mountain routes that may become impassable during bad weather. Reservations for evening telescope sessions should be made in advance as space is limited.

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope measures ten meters (33 feet) in diameter and ranks among the largest optical instruments in the world. Its design allows it to observe fixed zones of the sky, which reduces construction and operating costs compared to fully movable telescopes.