Science is NOT boring, and scientists are not stodgy. (This was a BIG telescope!) The kids were so impressed! When the man asked my youngest if there was anything else he’d like to see, he answered, “Yes! I want to see the Death Star!” (Guess what movie he’d recently watched.) Without skipping a beat, the man answered earnestly, “Oh! I wish I could see it too…but as you know, that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” □ One man patiently helped my children study the craters of the moon and find Saturn so they could look at its rings. Several telescopes were set up in our local park, and many of their owners had brought step-stools so that little ones could look into the big lenses. Our youngest was only about 5 when we made our first trip out into the dark one Friday night. I was always impressed by the way these science enthusiasts gently encouraged my children. Speaking for our family, we have some wonderful memories of star parties in the park and stargazing courses taught by a local expert. Do plan well in advance, though, as their classes may fill up quickly!Ī trip to the observatory is sure to be educational, but you may also be surprised by how much fun your students will have. Their resources include guided tours of the night sky, labs, and activities, and several take place at the McDonald Observatory. In their own words, “SkyTitan is an educational content provider that offers innovative, online educational resources to schools, homeschoolers, and life-long learners.” Many of their resources were developed out of collaborations between universities, professional institutions, and scientists, so you can be assured of its quality. Accurate information for opening hours and tours can be found at mcdonaldobservatory.If you have a particular interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or Astronomy, you’ll definitely want to know about SkyTitan. Bring a jacket, since the mountain air cools quickly.Ī gift shop featuring astronomy related merchandise and the StarDate Cafe are located in the visitor’s center. The observatory is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. (reservations are required) A star party showcases interesting stars, planets and other astronomical objects including live views through telescopes from 8 to 24 inches in size. The observatory has evening Star Parties on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays which are led by knowledgeable staffers. (reservations are strongly encouraged) Daily tours follow Solar Viewing. Solar Viewing sessions are conducted twice daily at 11am and 2pm. Self-guided tours are possible from 10am to 5:30pm. Operated by the University of Texas at Austin, the observatory has several large research telescopes and hosts astronomers from around the world. The observatory is located just 17 miles from Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118 and under. The observatory is located just 17 miles from Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118 and under one of the darkest night skies of any major observatory in the continental United States. Smith and 82 Otto Struve telescopes located on 6,800-foot Mt. Smith and 82″ Otto Struve telescopes located on 6,800-foot Mt. The observatory’s three largest instruments are the 362″ Hobby-Eberly telescope on 6,600-foot Mount Fowlkes, the 107″ Harlan J.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |