I attended the star party where they point out constellations and talk everything stars. They let you look through the telescopes which makes it extra cool. You do have to wait in lines but it goes by pretty quick. We got to go twice in the 2 hour period of the program. It seems like a good activity for people of all ages. A great way to spend an evening! They have a cool gift shop with packaged snacks and drinks. Restrooms are clean and they have a water bottle refill spout at the water fountain. You can tell everyone really cares about the program and are super informative. Worth going!

Since I'm a bit of a science nerd, I loved it! We took the day tour and saw two of the three telescopes at the site: Hobby-Eberly and Harlan J. Smith. For the Hobby-Eberly telescope, we stood in an entrance area and could see the telescope mirrors and equipment through glass doors. For the Harlan J. Smith telescope, we were actually in the room with the telescope and our guide moved both the telescope and roof. I really enjoyed our tour. The entire tour took about 2 hours and our guide was very knowledgeable.

We had a really fun experience at the McDonald's Observatory. The woman who was presiding over the stargazing party was great! She was funny and insightful. My favorite parts of the visit was her pointing out constellations and stars with a laser pointer while sharing interesting stories that have been passed down from generations. Priceless. It does get a lot colder up here at night, so bring an extra jacket ir blanket if you're going in cooler weather. The gift shop is pretty cool and has lots of interesting books, shirts and more. It's pretty far away from everything, so if you're planning to go for a night stargazing, a suggestion is to stay overnight somewhere close. Another suggestion for the staff is to dim down some of the red lights as they can be a little bright. Overall I highly recommend seeing the dark skies from this remote place in West Texas! #darkskies

We did the self guided daytime tour. We would have loved to get tickets for a star gazing party but they were fully booked. It was worth going just for the views from the top of Mt Locke.

Nice place to visit with kids and family. Informative guided tours. With the privilege of watching the telescopes up close you get a chance to drive in the highest drivable road within the state of Texas.

Not a lot there for visitors unless you pay for extras--solar viewing presentation, guided tour, star gazing. But it's not expensive to do so and it's very interesting and educational. Plus there are some great views of the surrounding area since it's located on 2 mountains.

Absolutely breathtaking experience! Everybody is really friendly and willing to discuss the observatory with you. All of the visitors exhibits are cool and help explain the substance and purpose behind these massive telescopes. I definitely recommend making the drive out to the middle of nowhere to visit this place. There is honestly a little more to it than I imagined. Just one note, they do not take American Express.

As you might have seen in my other reviews, I am a bit of a science nut so this review is biased. Very nice visitor center with public outreach exhibits. They also have daytime tours and a solar talk. If you have a RV you'll need to sign up for a tour -- RVs are allowed on the road up to the observatories. The tours sell out well in advance so you have been forewarned! Also check out the evening star parties if you have time.

Such a wonderful, pretty exciting & educational experience. There's a small visitors fee. They have guided tours but you can explore even without taking the guided tour. Totally recommend this experience for all ages.

We really enjoyed our time here. The tour guides really made it enjoyable and educational. The star party was the really good as well. Was worried since the moon was almost at full, so was still bright out. But we still got to see a lot before the moon came over the horizon.

Great observatory and I had an awesome tour. Lots of information spread around the area. I found myself feeling a bit of regret because this would have been a place I would have loved to have visted if I was a kid. Totally recommend the place for fans of astronomy. View around the area is amazing as well.

The star party was really cool. Being able to see with my own eyes all of the things that I have only seen in my astronomy class was amazing. As well as that, the exhibits they have are neat.

Insider tip. You can avoid the whole third thing if you show up early and drive up to the domes yourself. Of course you can't go IN the domes (can't on the tour either) but those roads are state roads so you absolutely can drive right up the sign that says authorized personnel only. Really cool walk and views. I spotted some wild pigs/ javelina while up there.

Had a wonderful time! Did the sun viewing program and self guided tour, learned a lot. The presenter was very fun and funny, also knowledgeable, informative and shared lots of fascinating details. Great interactive displays in the visitor's center.

Went to the star party with the family and really enjoyed ourselves. The host was very informative and all the staff were happy to answer any questions anybody had. We got to see some amazing stellar bodies and gained a greater appreciation for the universe we live in. I highly recommend going here and the drive out there was simply amazing.

The Sky is the Limit here!! I had this observatory on my Bucket List for decades. Every time I drove through the Van Horn area, I knew the McDonald Observatory was close by. I finally made made it here. I was amazed at the technology that has been invested by UT Austin. I knew the McDonald Observatory was famous for its MONSTER TELESCOPES, but I didn't know the history behind this science tech center. It is has some of the most advanced telescopes in the WORLD. The Frank N. Bush Visitors Center is really great. It has great information on the Celestial Skies and the historical development of the McDonald Observatory. If you are a scientifically curious person, this place is a must. I attended the STAR PARTY presentation at 7 pm. It was pretty good. While it appeared the cloudy skies was to ruin my evening visit, the skies cleared up by 8 pm and participants were able to see Jupiter, Saturn, and a two-star constellation first hand! I will say that they need to improve on their day tour. I wish they provided a little more access to the inner workings of the magnificent telescopes. Hope you make the visit yourself! :-)

Enjoyed day tours (solar telescope) and facilities tour and Star Party viewing one day/night and special viewing night with the 82-inch telescope. If you love stargazing this is a must visit!

I am feeling so bad that I didn’t know about this place before. I wanted to go to a state park near by and got to know about this amazing place I still went there to try if I can get in for night time viewing program but unfortunately couldn’t get through because of I didn’t had appointment. But I am surely adding this in my to do list for sure I am going to come back. Make sure to book an appointment.

We attended a Star Party. Buy tickets in advance as they sell out. Indoor exhibit was nice. Great facilities. Go all the way to the top if you can for a self-guided tour. Very educational. Can see wildlife, too - javelina and deer.

Enjoyed our July 25th star gazing party. We were hoping to see more of the Milky Way but the moon was out. However, we were able to see the moon up close, really close! Thanks to the staff for their amazing knowledge.

I attended a star party and enjoyed the heck out of myself. Mind the javelinas...they're cute but they don't think you are. The person who led the star party was so knowledgeable, kind to the kiddos asking questions, and made the evening one to remember. Being able to try out the different telescopes was so neat. I saw Saturn and Jupiter for the first time with my own eyes - core memory for sure! I want to go back for a solar viewing, but I'm also a physics student so I want to go back for lots of reasons. ;)

Must, absolutely must make reservations for the star party at least three months in advance. Everyone is friendly. Beautiful place.

If you are in the Davis Mountains, stop at the observatory. For $3 you can do a self guided tour. Plan ahead and for $10 you can take the guided tour. You can see and lean so much more.

Great place on a clear night! Really enjoyed the Star Party program and the opportunity to look through telescopes and take photos afterwards. I took these on a normal iPhone 12 with a tripod and the Nocturne app (download in advance - no cell service at the top!)

The Star party was so much fun!! Amazing information! We got to see Saturn, mars, and Jupiter which was my favorite part! I would recommend this to everyone of all ages. We got lucky with the moon not being out which made the stars shine brighter. The staff was amazing and very friendly. The host was funny and kept everyone engaged. Make sure you dress warm and bring blankets! Can't wait to do this again!!!!

The observatory offers a plethora of experiences for all different interest levels in space and science. I highly recommend experiencing the Star Party to gain a fantastic view of the constellations, a fantastic educational seminar, and a view through numerous telescopes.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the McDonald's Observatory with my family on June 30th, 2023, and it was an experience that left us in awe. With our two energetic 8-year-old twin boys and our curious 3-year-old daughter, we were eager to embark on a night filled with stargazing and telescope exploration. I must say, McDonald's Observatory exceeded our expectations and provided us with an enchanting adventure. Upon arriving at the observatory, we were greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable staff who made us feel welcome and excited about the upcoming activities. The facility itself was well-maintained and showcased a perfect blend of scientific wonder and natural beauty. We could tell that great care had been taken to create an inviting atmosphere for visitors of all ages. The highlight of our visit was, of course, the opportunity to peer through the observatory's impressive telescopes. The view of the night sky was absolutely breathtaking, and our children's faces lit up with wonder as they gazed at distant galaxies and sparkling constellations. The staff members were patient and informative, offering explanations and answering our questions with enthusiasm. It was a joy to witness our kids' curiosity being nurtured and their love for science and astronomy being ignited. In addition to the telescopes, McDonald's Observatory offered various educational exhibits and presentations that catered to different age groups. Our 8-year-old boys were especially thrilled to participate in the interactive displays and hands-on activities. The observatory's commitment to providing an educational experience while keeping it engaging and accessible for young children was truly commendable. The overall organization of the event was well-executed, and we didn't encounter any significant delays or issues. We appreciated the attention to detail in terms of safety measures, ensuring that everyone could enjoy the evening without any concerns. The staff's professionalism and passion for astronomy were evident throughout our visit, making it even more memorable. While we thoroughly enjoyed our time at McDonald's Observatory, there are a couple of minor areas where improvements could be made. Firstly, it would be helpful to have more seating options available for families with younger children during the presentations. Secondly, although the staff was knowledgeable and friendly, it would have been beneficial to have more interactive discussions or Q&A sessions to further engage visitors and encourage deeper learning. Overall, our visit to McDonald's Observatory was an unforgettable experience for our entire family. The enchanting night sky, the informative exhibits, and the welcoming staff all contributed to a memorable evening that sparked a newfound love for astronomy in our children. We highly recommend McDonald's Observatory as a must-visit destination for families seeking an awe-inspiring and educational adventure under the stars.

A beautiful drive from Alpine. Parking is ample and check in at the front entrance for the Star Party was well organized. The gift shop has a nice selection of pins, postcards and many other souvenirs. The amphitheater was a perfect setting and the 5 telescopes to view planets and constellations was wonderful to experience.

I love astronomy and everything about space. This place was jaw dropping. We went on the self guided tour. I loved every minute I was up on those summits. I don’t want to say to much about the experience because you need to see it yourself if you go. It does require you to drive up to the summits. I don’t know what it’s like on the guided tour. An amazing place for someone who likes astronomy and space stuff.

Awesome place even though it's little out of the way to get there. The views were awesome once you get to one of the actual observatories. You can see forever. Buy tickets in advance if you want to do a guided tour. Worst case, you can do the self guided as we did.

The star party was terrific! Every time I looked away from the sky and looked back, there were more stars! The staff was excellent, and we're very friendly. They were very knowledgeable and made it a fun experience. I highly recommend everyone to go at least once. It's such a breathtaking experience to get away from the city and see many stars. I look forward to coming back in the summer to see something different.

Great experience. Beautiful scenery and great presentation. Plan ahead if you want to see the night presentation. We didn't and it was already full. We will definitely make reservations next time. I hear it is a must see.

We attended the Star Party. This program is quite educational and interesting. Viewing different planets, the moon thru high power telescopes is fun. Highly recommended. A summer moonless night would be best for the milky way.