2002

McDonald Observatory, a major astronomical research facility is located in the Davis Mountains at one of the darkest sites in the world.  It houses the largest (432-in) telescope mirror in the world.  From the top of both Mt. Locke and Mt. Fowlkes hundred-mile vistas of area mountains can be seen. 

We were able to view live images of the sun showing solar sun spots and flares.  The images are actually eight and one half minutes old since that's how long it takes the light to travel from the sun to the earth. 

Researchers come from all over the world to use the telescopes operated by the University of Texas at Austin.

Telescopes        Hobby-Eberly Telescope        Visitors Center         View of Valley