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McDonald Observatory

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McDonald Observatory - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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About McDonald Observatory

McDonald Observatory is a research unit of The University of Texas at Austin and one of the world's leading centers for astronomical research, teaching, and public education and outreach. Observatory facilities are located atop Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, which offer some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States. Additionally, the observatory is a partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope under construction in Chile. McDonald's principal research telescopes include:

The Giant Magellan Telescope

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) now under construction in Chile is the first in a new generation of extremely large telescopes. Its seven mirrors will span 25 meters. UT Austin is a founding partner in the collaboration which includes several other U.S. universities and partner institutions from around the world. The telescope is expected to see first light in the next decade. More information is available at the  project website .

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope

With its 10-meter mirror, the HET is one of the world's largest optical telescopes. First dedicated in 1997, the telescope underwent a complete and extensive upgrade in 2017. The HET is optimized for spectroscopy, the decoding of light from stars and galaxies to study their properties. This makes it ideal for searching for planets around other stars, as well as probing distant galaxies, exploding stars, black holes, and more. This telescope is critical to a major study of dark energy, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX). The HET is a joint project of The University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope

Constructed 1966-68, the Smith Telescope has a 2.7-meter (107-inch) mirror, which was the third largest in the world when built. The telescope is used every clear night of the year.

The Otto Struve Telescope

Constructed 1933-39, the Struve Telescope was the first major telescope to be built at McDonald Observatory. Its 2.1-meter (82-inch) mirror was the second largest in the world at the time. The telescope is still in use today.

Other Telescopes

McDonald also operates several one-meter class telescopes. These include MONET/North, a node of the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, as well as 0.9-meter (36-inch) and 0.8-meter (30-inch) telescopes. Additionally, the Observatory is home to the 0.8-meter (30-inch) McDonald Laser Ranging Station operated by UT Austin's Center for Space Research, a 20-inch telescope operated by Boston University, and a 0.45-meter automated telescope that is part of the ROTSE collaboration.

Public Education and Outreach

McDonald Observatory operates a multi-faceted international public outreach program. At the on-site Frank N. Bash Visitors Center, outreach events include star parties, public tours, K-12 teacher and student activities, and more. McDonald also produces the StarDate radio program, StarDate magazine, the StarDate Online website, and special programs for hundreds of elementary and secondary teachers across the United States.

Land Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge that we operate on the Indigenous lands of Turtle Island, the ancestral name for what now is called North America. Moreover, we would like to acknowledge the Alabama-Coushatta, Caddo, Carrizo/Comecrudo, Coahuiltecan, Comanche, Kickapoo, Lipan Apache, Tonkawa and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, and all the American Indian and Indigenous Peoples and communities who have been or have become a part of these lands and territories in Texas.

Mt. Locke Domes with Star Trails

Present & Past

Directory Want to find an astronomer, staffer, or student at the Observatory or in the UT Austin Astronomy Program? Check the Astronomy Program Directory .

Timeline Learn more about the history of the Observatory through our interactive timeline , and suggest milestones to add to it.

Memories Blog Have a favorite memory of McDonald Observatory? Share your stories and photos of the Observatory on our interactive blog , and read others' stories from the 1930s right up until today.

Getty Images/Photo Researchers RM

McDonald Observatory

Top choice in West Texas

The hottest ticket in West Texas ? A reservation for one of the thrice-weekly Star Parties at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. Located on Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes in the remote Davis Mountains, the Observatory and its telescopes enjoy some of the darkest skies in the continental United States. For visitors, this means that stars, planets, constellations and meteors can be observed at night in their full sparkling glory, undiminished by artificial light from cities and suburbs. During the two-hour Star Parties staff members point out and discuss prominent stars and constellations. Telescopes are available for sky viewing after the talk.

Home to several of the largest telescopes in the world, the Observatory is also a popular daytime destination. Guided tours to the research telescopes are offered several times per week. Filtered telescopes in the visitor center allow daytime visitors to view the sun safely during solar viewing programs. Visitors who are not up for a tour or talk can simply purchase a general admission ticket, which includes a self-guided tour of the summits of Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes. The general admission ticket also allows access to the visitor center exhibit gallery and gift shop.

The Observatory is 450 miles west of Austin and 520 miles southwest of Dallas . It is closed to the public on Sunday and Monday. Star Parties are typically thrown on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights. The start time varies with the season. The Star Parties also book up at least two weeks in advance.  

History of McDonald Observatory

McDonald Observatory conducts research for the University of Texas at Austin Astronomy Program. The Observatory and its research were made possible by banker and lawyer William Johnson McDonald, who left much of his estate to the University for the construction of the Observatory after his death in 1926.

Dedicated in 1936, the Struve Telescope was the first telescope built here. It is named for the Observatory’s first director, Dr. Otto Struve. With a 2.1-meter mirror, it was the second largest telescope in the world at its dedication. Its instruments have since been upgraded, and it is still in use today. The Harland J Smith telescope, which has a 2.7-meter mirror, was completed in 1968 and is also still in use. The Hobby-Eberley Telescope has a 11-meter mirror, and it is one of the largest optical telescopes in the world. It was dedicated in 1997 and upgraded in 2017. It studies the light from stars and galaxies to help astronomers gain an understanding of their properties. It is also used for ground-breaking research into dark energy. There are numerous other smaller telescopes on the grounds. 

The Observatory is currently collaborating with several US universities in the development of a 25-meter telescope with seven mirrors in Chile. Named the Giant Magellan Telescope, it is scheduled to be operational in 2029.

What you need to know about Star Parties

Held Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the parties begin in the outdoor amphitheater with a brief orientation chat by staff. During the 30-minute Constellation Tour that follows, you can sit back and soak up the mythology and science behind your favorite constellations – while gazing at the star-speckled sky overhead. The Milky Way is breathtaking on a clear night, cutting a silky path across the cosmos. The evening ends with 90 minutes of stargazing through telescopes set up at the Rebecca Gale Telescope Park. Staff and volunteers are available for questions. 

Visitors will not be viewing the stars through any of the research telescopes, which provide data to scientists but not visual images.

What to bring

Feel free to bring binoculars, but to ensure dark skies and the best viewing experience for all visitors, do not bring white-light flashlights. Bring redlight flashlights and headlamps instead. Bright camera screens and flash photography are also discouraged. Dress warmly and in layers, and it’s fine to bring a blanket too. The Star Parties are held outdoors at a high elevation, where the temperature is about 10 degrees cooler than it is at the base of the mountains.

Best time to visit

When making your reservation, remember that light from a full moon can diminish the visibility of the stars and the Milky Way. For optimal viewing conditions consider attending a Star Party before the first quarter moon or a few days past the full moon. Fall usually has the clearest skies, while July and August see the most rain.

Daytime programs

A general admission ticket provides public access to the visitor center and its exhibits. A self-guided tour of the grounds is also included. You do not need a reservation for a general admission ticket. There is an extra fee for the guided tour and the solar viewing program. Reservations are recommended for these two add-on activities since space is limited.

The self-guided tour begins atop Mount Locke, where scenic overlooks take in the Davis Mountains and various telescopes in the distance. The Struve Telescope and the Harland J Smith Telescope and their domes are on Mount Locke. The tour continues to the summit of Mount Fowlkes. The large silver dome here holds the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. Its cutting-edge instruments allow astronomers to view hundreds of galaxies at once, to study the chemistry of galaxies and to search for stars. You can view the telescope from the George T Abell Gallery inside the dome. You must drive to both Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes.

The 90-minute guided tour stops by the Harlan J Smith Telescope on Mount Locke and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope on Mount Fowlkes. Guides discuss the history of the Observatory, the design of the telescopes and current research projects. You will not be looking at the stars though the telescopes, however. Visitors drive their cars to the domes. 

During the 45-minute solar viewing program, staff discuss the history and characteristics of the sun. Filtered telescopes with cameras share images of the surface of the sun on-screen. The programs are typically held at 1pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 

West Texas has some of the darkest skies in North America, meaning its stargazing is exceptional. This status is threatened, however, as commercial development leads to an increase in artificial light, which diminishes the view. The Observatory is working with Big Bend National Park , Big Bend Ranch State Park and other regional partners to monitor light pollution. Another goal is to replace and retrofit light fixtures in the region so that they minimize light pollution. The partners also promote dark-sky friendly practices across West Texas and work to educate the public about the importance of dark skies.

Plan your visit

The Observatory is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. A general admission ticket is $3. Guided tours are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 5 years. Star Party tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for children under 5. Senior and military discounts are available for guided tours ($8) and Star Parties ($20). The solar viewing program is $5. 

The Observatory is in the Central Time Zone (CDT). The visitor center phone number is 432-426-3640. Check the website for details about accessibility.

3640 Dark Sky Dr

Get In Touch

432-426-3640

https://​www​.mcdonaldobservatory​.org​​/

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Our mission is to advance humanity's understanding of the universe through research in astronomy, to facilitate graduate and undergraduate education in astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin, to contribute to the public understanding of science in Texas and the nation, and to use astronomy as a tool to help Texas teachers meet state standards and excite Texas school children about careers in a scientific and technical field.

This site contains a wide array of McDonald Observatory resources for researchers, students and other observers. For information about visits and more, members of the public should go to "Visit & Learn" » Learn more »

This site contains a wide array of McDonald Observatory resources for researchers, students and other observers. To learn more »

To plan a trip to McDonald Observatory, learn about its public programs and explore resources for K-12 educators, visit mcdonaldobservatory.org »

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McDonald Observatory (West Texas) 3640 Dark Sky Drive McDonald Observatory, TX 79734

877-984-7827 - toll-free

For other inquiries :  call 432-426-3263 [email protected]

McDonald Observatory (Austin) 2515 Speedway, Stop C1402 Austin, TX 78712-1206

512-471-3552

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McDonald Observatory by Pete Szilagyi courtesy of Texas Mountain Trail

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Visitor Information Center: [email protected] (432) 837-2326 106 N. 3rd St., Alpine, TX 79830

visitalpinetx.com is the official online visitor information source for the City of Alpine, Texas . Web site administrator: [email protected] All photos © by the photographer. Do not use without permission.

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A Day and Night at McDonald Observatory

Texas’ empty expanses boast incredibly dark skies. They also shed light: literal photons from distant heavenly bodies, yes, but scientific discoveries and realizations about our own smallness as well. At McDonald Observatory, we chased enlightenment under a blanket of stars.

About 100 billion stars twinkle in the Milky Way, which itself is one of roughly 100 billion galaxies in the known universe. But numbers alone can’t convey the grandeur of those facts. Sometimes you just need to go outside and look up. For that, nothing beats Texas’ big sky, which stretches vast, deep, and dark. We stopped at McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains for an unmatched glimpse of the cosmos.

It’s Full of (Research) Stars

The drive up to McDonald Observatory, a world-class astronomy facility perched on Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes, felt like a tiny pilgrimage. As the road rose in elevation and the telescope domes grew larger in view, our anticipation mounted.

The destination more than delivered. Owned and operated by the University of Texas at Austin, the property includes five research telescopes of various sizes and uses. The largest, the 433-inch Hobby-Eberly Telescope, is used to search for planets around other stars and study far-flung galaxies, exploding stars, black holes, and more.

Here, astronomers make discoveries that nab headlines and alter our concept of the universe. One researcher was part of a team that recently found an 11.2-billion-year-old solar system with a Sun-like star and five Earth-size planets. The discovery carries implications for the chances of ancient life elsewhere in the galaxy. You know, just a normal Tuesday at McDonald Observatory.

Oh, Happy Day

The beginning stargazer can find riches, too. Daytime tours and solar viewings are available every day of the week; Star Parties open up access to telescopes every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evening; and the Twilight Program, a session unfolding before the Star Party, regales visitors with lessons about the planets, the Sun, and the Moon.

We did all the above. Opting for the daytime tour at 2 p.m.—there’s also an 11 a.m. session—we filed into the multimedia theater of the visitors center, where a guide kicked things off with a magnificent solar spectacle.

Using specially filtered telescopes that ensure safe viewing, he walked us through the Sun’s features, past and future. The presentation was riveting, from the explanation of sunspots, which are relatively cool points on the solar surface, to the account of the Sun’s sad, bloated decline—which will span billions of years and leave Earth a drifting cinder.

Next came a shuttle bus drive to Mount Locke and the 107-inch dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. Among its many functions, the instrument has been used to refine measurements of the Moon’s distance from Earth, to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and to study the compositions of remote stars.

This location also let us enjoy the horizon. At an altitude of 6,790 feet, the mountain provides a panorama of the surrounding mountain landscape, which extends beautifully, peak after peak. Our guide explained how the altitude and seclusion provide protection from civilization’s light pollution, making for strikingly dark views of the night sky—indeed, some of the darkest in the country.

Twilight to Starlight

The Star Parties are probably the most buzzed-about aspect of a visit to the observatory. The thrice-weekly telescope events draw an average of 89 visitors per night in January, its slowest month, compared with 451 in March, when special spring break programs attract big crowds.

Visitors can attend the pre-party Twilight Program, a roughly hour-long talk. Some nights feature an excellent overview of Moon phases, eclipses, and features. On nights where the Moon is elusive, the program includes a live scale model of the solar system, in which audience members play the role of the planets. My show-off companion was Saturn.

The Star Party began afterward, opening with a short spiel that covered the “no light” policy. Cell phones, cameras, even kids’ LED shoes can create ambient distractions and keep our eyes from adjusting to the dark. Sure enough, in the pitch-black of a Big Bend night, it took a minute for our swath of the universe to fully reveal itself.

And when it did—wow! An uncompromised night sky is like nothing else on Earth, enough to make you buckle at the knees. We could see the Milky Way, gauzy clusters of stars, faint meteors, and even man-made satellites arrayed in awesome detail. With about two dozen telescopes dotting Rebecca Gale Telescope Park, we took turns waiting in brisk lines while guides peppered us with facts.

When it was our turn at the eyepiece, we got eyefuls of Mars, Saturn, Uranus, constellations, and galaxies—so many things, named and unnamed, that gave us a faint, powerful hint of what 100 billion times 100 billion means.

FUN FACT The Hobby-Eberly Telescope is part of the first major project to search for dark energy. Making up 70 percent of matter and energy in the universe, dark energy is the mysterious force behind the universe’s expansion. HETDEX, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment, will map 100 million galaxies that are nine billion to 11 billion light years away—the largest map of the universe ever produced.

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McDonald Observatory in Texas: Tour and Solar Viewing

By: Author Dave Lee

Posted on Last updated: June 4, 2022

The McDonald Observatory in Texas offers astronomers and curious visitors some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States.

Here, professional astronomers use one of the world's largest optical telescopes, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, for astronomical research on dark energy, faraway galaxies, and planets orbiting distant stars.

The observatory is a research unit of the University of Texas at Austin and is open to the public.

Table of Contents

Planning Our Visit

Getting to mcdonald observatory, otto struve telescope, harlan j. smith telescope, scenic views from mount locke, hobby-eberly telescope, scenic views from mount folkes, frank n. bash visitors center, visiting mcdonald observatory in west texas.

When I suggested to Kel that we plan a trip to Marfa and Big Bend National Park, she excitedly brought up McDonald Observatory, located 38 miles north of Marfa in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.

The observatory is known for its star parties ($25), including a lecture in an outdoor amphitheater and easy access to the Rebecca Gale Telescope Park located next to the Visitors Center.

Star parties are held three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Unfortunately, they were fully booked for the weeks we were considering.

However, there's more to visiting McDonald Observatory than their evening programs and star parties.

The observatory also offers guided tours ($10), self-guided tours ($3), and solar viewings ($5).

Guided tours were also sold out on the day we planned to go; however, we both enjoyed the self-guided tour and live look at the sun.

McDonald Observatory is about 440 miles west of Austin, Texas. The drive takes about seven hours, so you'll want to spend a few nights out there unless you're en route somewhere else.

We stayed in Marfa for two nights, 38 miles south of the observatory, or about a 45-minute drive (via TX-17 North and TX-118 North to Dark Sky Drive).

If you prefer to sleep even closer, hotels and RV parks are available in Fort Davis, about 17 miles southeast of the observatory.

The highways are all nicely paved. TX-118 North features twists and turns that may provoke motion sickness in some. It doesn't last too long, though.

Self-Guided Tour

The entrance to the Visitor Center features a sundial and a clear view of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope perched atop Mt. Fowlkes.

Upon arrival at noon, we checked in and were given a map of the facility for our self-guided tour and a sticker to indicate we were attending the 1 p.m. sun lecture and solar viewing.

One hour was just enough time to explore the grounds ahead of the lecture.

We got back in our car after taking a few photos around the Rebecca Gale Telescope Park, where astronomy buffs can look through small telescopes during the star parties.

Keeping the time in mind, we drove to Mount Locke, home to the first telescope built at the McDonald Observatory in Texas.

The 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope was completed in 1939 and was the world's second-largest telescope.

Thanks to good maintenance and regular upgrades, this big telescope continues to be used for astronomical observations of the universe more than 80 years later.

According to the official website , this telescope “made some important discoveries, including the discovery of Uranus' fifth moon Miranda and Neptune's moon second-largest moon, Nereid. It was used to discover carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars and methane in the atmosphere of Saturn's giant moon Titan.”

A historical plaque outside the observatory says this site was chosen for its:

• High ratio of clear nights
• 6,800-foot altitude
• Distance from cities and artificial light
• Low latitude (which helps with observations of the southern skies)

This building is not accessible, regardless of whether you're on a self-guided or guided tour.

Mount Locke is also home to the 107-inch Harlan J. Smith Telescope, completed in 1968. At the time, the 160-ton telescope was the third-largest in the world.

This telescope was initially used to study the planets in our solar system, so NASA better understood them before designing new missions.

“For almost a decade, the telescope also reflected a laser off mirrors left on the Moon by Apollo astronauts, in a program called “lunar laser ranging.” These results have helped refine the distance to the Moon and enabled a better understanding of its interior, and provided a test of Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity.” – Official Website

It's possible to enter the lobby of this telescope on an unguided tour, but there's nothing more than a short video. Additional access is provided on a guided tour.

The views from Mount Locke are expansive. A sign states that the summit of Mount Locke is the highest point on Texas highways (6,791 feet).

Kel captured a terrific shot of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope on Mount Fowlkes from our vantage point on Mount Locke.

Related: Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles

The 433-inch Hobby Eberly Telescope (HET) was completed in 1996 and upgraded in 2016.

It's one of the world's largest optical telescopes, designed to study the light emitted from far-off galaxies and stars.

Unlike the other large telescopes at McDonald Observatory in Texas, an exhibit shines a light on the research conducted with the HET.

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) aims to “make a three-dimensional map of the universe when it was about three billion years old and measure its expansion rate at that time.”

To do this, HETDEX is mapping one million galaxies and measuring how fast they're moving away from us.

The numbers are truly astronomical. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains 100 thousand million stars .

I loved that a window allowed visitors to see directly into the HET.

The HET's mirror is always tilted at 55 degrees above the horizon. However, the tracker mounted above the telescope moves in six directions, allowing the HET to study 70 percent of the visible sky. The 80-ton telescope rotates on a bed of air, using air cushions to lift and position the enormous instrument.  – Official website

The view from Mount Fowlkes offered an excellent vantage for pictures of the other two giant telescopes we'd just visited on Mount Locke.

Plus, you could get a better feel for how the Visitor Center and public telescope park appear amid the natural landscape.

Related: Kennedy Space Center Attractions

It took us about 45 minutes to do the driving portion of the self-guided tour. Afterward, we parked the car at the Visitors Center.

Our remaining 15 minutes before the solar viewing was spent at a small exhibit about the history of McDonald Observatory and the gift shop.

Solar Viewing

At 1 p.m., the doors to the lecture hall opened, and we took our seats in the center of the room.

One of the guides gave us a 45-minute lecture on the sun, the closest star to Earth we can study.

He threw in a little self-deprecating humor, knowing we were all more interested in the live images of the sun's surface than hearing him talk.

However, the info he relayed did help us to appreciate better what we were seeing on the screen once the special telescope used to study the sun was pointed at it. It was a little underwhelming but still neat.

Upon returning home to Austin, I watched a new episode of NOVA on PBS about the age of stars and their life and death cycles.

It has incredible video images of our sun's surface, including solar flares. The episode is available to watch online at PBS .

While I would've loved seeing the night sky at a star party, given how far we had to drive in the Lone Star State to reach the McDonald Observatory, I still felt like our daytime visit was worthwhile.

If you're planning a trip to the region, whether to visit Marfa or Big Bend National Park, I highly recommend finding the time to see McDonald Observatory.

You can check the availability for guided tours, star parties, and solar viewing programs and pay for tickets on the facility's website .

To protect the night skies in the Big Bend region from light pollution, the observatory is applying to the International Dark-Sky Association to create an International Dark Sky Reserve in the Big Bend region.

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio . He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

• G Adventures for small group tours.
• Hostelworld for booking hostels.

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Astronomers Lodge

The Astronomers Lodge hosts modest, and reasonably priced, private rooms, a group meeting room, and a dining room. Private rooms include private bath, a King Size bed or two twin beds. Occupancy is for adult guests only (children must be 12 or older).

Rates include a continental breakfast and two freshly prepared meals per day. (Rates are not discounted for guests who do not eat at the Lodge.) Please make us aware of any special dietary needs at the time the reservation is made.

Because the Astronomers Lodge accommodates researchers who are working at night, we ask all guests to cooperate with our lighting and noise policies so that both astronomers and guests have an enjoyable and productive stay

Check-in time is any time after 3 PM. Checkout time for guests is 11:00 AM, with exceptions for astronomers and staff on official business.

Rooms may also be reserved by participants in  Special Programs ,  Friends of McDonald Observatory , and members of the  Board of Visitors , as space permits, by making arrangements directly with the Lodge. First priority is given to observers.

Cancellation policy  – Cancellations must be received at least 24 hours prior to reservation date. A service fee of $50.00 per night will be charged for all no-shows.

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Honoring Barry Barish with a day rich in physics

UC Riverside honors the distinguished professor and Nobel laureate for receiving a National Medal of Science

The College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences , or CNAS, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Riverside hosted a celebration on April 30 to honor Nobel laureate Barry Barish . Barish, a distinguished professor of physics and astronomy, received a National Medal of Science from President Joe Biden last year.

The occasion also marked the launch of a new center on campus that Barish is spearheading: the Experimental Cosmology Center, which will design equipment for experiments at the forefront of the field and train students to lead these experiments.

Barish was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery of gravitational waves. He shared the prize with two other physicists. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics in 1957 and his doctorate in experimental particle physics in 1962, both from UC Berkeley. He led the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO, effort through the final design stages, and in subsequent discoveries. He joined the UCR faculty in 2018.

The day began with a lunch for invited guests, which was followed, at 1 p.m. in the University Theatre, by a series of presentations on the frontiers of physics. After UCR Provost Elizabeth Watkins welcomed the audience, Nobel laureate Art McDonald , director of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Collaboration in Canada, gave a talk on experimental cosmology. 

“Barry Barish has been a leader in experimental particle physics throughout his career and a universally respected leader and mentor,” McDonald said. “I am personally grateful to him for his mentorship during the construction of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. His experience in large international collaborations and experiments in underground laboratories was extremely valuable to me.”

McDonald’s talk was followed by a presentation by Chang Kee Jung , a distinguished professor at Stony Brook University in New York, where he is chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Jung mentioned he had the privilege to get to know three giants in particle physics, Barish being one of them. He invited Annika Speer , a professor of teaching, theatre, film, and digital production at UCR, to read “ Cosmic Gall ,” a poem on neutrinos by John Updike. Neutrinos, which are among the most abundant subatomic particles in the universe, are uncharged and barely interact with anything else.

Barish discussed the new Experimental Cosmology Center that will encompass a broad range of subjects in fundamental physics, with a focus on experimental cosmology, gravity/gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. He said there was a need to create such a center at UCR, a Hispanic Serving Institution.

“The center would involve undergraduate students in research, which is a crucial objective,” Barish said. “We are very good at UCR at involving undergraduate students in our research labs. Presently, UCR has about 50% of physics majors doing research, which is not typical of most universities. By the time they graduate, more than 90% of the graduating physics majors at UCR have had experience in research. The new center should be able to provide student support.”

His talk was followed by presentations by Steve Choi ; Jonathan Richardson and his undergraduate student Peter Carney ; and Shawn Westerdale , with his postdoctoral researcher Michela Lai and graduate student Alec Peck – all of the UCR Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Shan-Wen Tsai , chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said Barish has been an enormous inspiration for both faculty and students. 

“Professor Barish has inaugurated a program in experimental cosmology here at UCR, with the addition of three new young faculty members in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, developing a world-class effort focused on experimental studies of the origins and structure of the universe,” she said. “The course he teaches here, ‘Frontiers of Physics and Astrophysics,’ is a graduate-level class that also attracts many undergraduates. It has inspired these students to join the advanced instrumentation labs being built here on campus and to do research in physics and astrophysics.”

The evening program included a reception and a public talk, titled “Gravitational Waves: Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Universe,” by Barish at the University Theatre. Peter Atkinson , the interim dean of CNAS, and Kim Wilcox, chancellor of UCR, welcomed the audience. Kenneth Barish , a professor of physics and astronomy at UCR, introduced Barry Barish, his father.

The evening lecture was part of the college’s science lecture series that provides an opportunity for CNAS scientists to share their knowledge and research with the campus community and the public. 

Header photo by William Vasta .

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