We visited the McDonald Observatory Visitors Cente...

We visited the McDonald Observatory Visitors Center in late July 2017 for their evening presentation and star party. If you want to do these events you must have reservations. Space fills up fast so get them in advance. There is an event before the star party. It is in the indoor auditorium. It is very interesting but the seats are very uncomfortable. The star party consists of an outdoor presentation in the amphitheater that is in the back of the visitors center. The presentation involves an astronomer who points things out in the night sky with a green laser pointer and talks about it. You are invited to enjoy this presentation and then visit the various telescopes around the amphitheater to see things in the night sky. You can also avoid the long lines and view during the presentation. The night we were there they had their telescopes pointed at Saturn, Jupiter, and a few nebulas. It was amazing to be up close to such big equipment. What is most amazing about the place is that the teaching and presentation staff really knows their stuff. You will learn a lot more about astronomy than you learned in High School.