The Department of Astronomy sponsors many public outreach programs, including in partnership with McDonald Observatory staff.
Activities on campus in Austin include:
- Public star parties three times a week at two different telescopes
- Field trips for local school groups to visit the solar telescope
- A variety of other special events throughout the year
Faculty, researchers, staff, and students also participate in a wide range of events including workshops, lectures, and demonstrations, in schools and for the general public. The McDonald Observatory Education and Outreach Office also manages programs in professional development for teachers, star parties, and facility tours at the Visitors' Center in West Texas. StarDate radio, the oldest and most popular radio program of its kind in the country, reaches an estimated 5 million people weekly. Information on programs at McDonald Observatory in West Texas can be found at McDonaldObservatory.org.
Here are some additional outreach and education programs that have been made possible by grants received by our faculty and researchers:
