McDonald Observatory

In West Texas, what's the hottest ticket? A ticket to one of McDonald Observatory's thrice-weekly Star Parties in Fort Davis. The Observatory and its telescopes are located atop Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes in the distant Davis Mountains, where the sky is among the darkest in the continental United States. This means that tourists may see stars, planets, constellations, and meteors in their full dazzling brilliance at night, unaffected by artificial light from cities and suburbs. Staff members point out and discuss famous stars and constellations during the two-hour Star Parties. After the discussion, telescopes are available for sky watching.

The Observatory, which houses three of the world's greatest telescopes, is also a popular daytime visit. Several times a week, guided tours of the research telescopes are available. Daytime visitors can safely observe the sun via filtered telescopes at the visitor center during solar observing programs. Visitors who do not want to participate in a tour or discussion can purchase a general entry ticket, which includes a self-guided visit of Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes' summits. The visitor center exhibit gallery and gift store are included in the standard entrance ticket.

Location: 3640 Dark Sky Dr, Fort Davis, TX 79734