Harlan J. Smith Telescope

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope is a major research instrument at McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains of Texas. With its 2.7-meter primary mirror and weighing 160 tons, the telescope sits inside a 23-meter dome that protects this sensitive equipment from the elements.

The telescope began operations in 1968 and was then the third largest optical reflecting telescope in the world. It was developed with NASA support for astronomical observation and exploration purposes.

The McDonald Observatory facility welcomes researchers and astronomers from the University of Texas at Austin to conduct studies of stars and distant galaxies.

The observatory sits in a remote region with low light pollution, providing ideal conditions for night sky observation. Visitors should prepare for variable weather and winding roads through the mountainous terrain.

In 1970 the mirror was damaged by gunshots but continued working reliably for scientific observations afterward. This incident demonstrates the instrument's durability despite such unusual events.