McDonald Observatory Invites Ecological Research as a Texas Field Station

August 29, 2023 • by Emily Howard

The observatory joins a network of six University of Texas sites dedicated to scientific research, environmental monitoring and conservation efforts.

Two telescope domes sit atop a mountain with more peaks in the distance

McDonald Observatory is the newest member of The University of Texas at Austin Texas Field Station Network. Located in the Davis Mountains, the Observatory sits atop 650 acres of mostly undisturbed land in the Chihuahuan Desert. Its new designation as a field station formally enables and expands valuable and ongoing research on the distinct ecosystem within which it resides and geological features unique to the area. Image credit: Ethan Tweedie Photography.


Map of Texas indicating location of field sites

McDonald Observatory is the sixth site in the Texas Field Station Network.

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