News: McDonald Observatory

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

McDonald Observatory

Astronomers Investigate Complex Heart of a Cosmic Butterfly

The James Webb Space Telescope offers a new view of a planetary nebula located about 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.

The complicated structure at the centre of the Butterfly Nebula, NGC 6302. There is a bright source at the centre that is surrounded by greenish nebulosity and several looping lines in cream, orange and pink. One of these lines appears to form a ring oriented vertically and nearly edge-on around the bright source at the centre. Other lines trace out a figure eight shape. Moving outward from these complex lines and green nebulosity, there is a section of red light on either side of the object.

McDonald Observatory

The Universe’s Secret Harvest: UT Astronomers Shed Light on “the Cosmic Grapes”

The galaxy contains far more star-forming clumps than current theoretical models can explain.

A lumpy purple galaxy with more than a dozen white clumps representing star forming regions

McDonald Observatory

Some Young Suns Align with Their Planet-forming Disks, Others Are Born Tilted

Lauren Biddle, a UT postdoc, finds about one-third of young Sun-like stars are born with misaligned protoplanetary disks.

An illustration demonstrating how a solar system is tilted with respect to the axis of its central star

McDonald Observatory

Stowaway Bat Returns Home Friday, July 25

A Big Freetail bat nicknamed Hubble apparently hitched a ride from McDonald Observatory to Austin in astronomy gear.

A gloved hand holds a small bat

McDonald Observatory

COSMOS-Web Releases Deepest Yet View Into the Universe

Over 250 hours of observations from the world’s most powerful telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, are freely available to the public.

A deep view of space is dotted with stars and galaxies

McDonald Observatory

UT’s Cosmic Frontier Center Welcomes New Class of Fellows

Their work will support the CFC's mission to uncover the origin of galaxies, black holes and stars in the early universe.

Photos of three students

McDonald Observatory

Vast Molecular Cloud Discovered Near Our Solar System

One of the largest single structures in the sky, the cloud is about 40 moons across, but not visible to the unaided eye.

A city skyline at night is illuminated by countless lights reflecting off the water in the foreground. Above the city, a full moon glows brightly against a star-studded sky. Dominating the night sky is a large, ethereal purple cloud, adding a surreal and cosmic element to the urban landscape.

McDonald Observatory

JWST Awards UT Astronomers 10% of Its Coveted Observing Time

Steve Finkelstein, Danielle Berg, Adam Kraus, Stella Offner and John Chisholm are among UT Austin astronomers leading new James Webb Space Telescope projects.

An artist's illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope

Accolades

AAS Names Steven Finkelstein as Fred Kavli Plenary Lecturer

Steven Finkelstein has been honored for his work to advance our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution at cosmic dawn.

Steven Finkelstein

McDonald Observatory

UT Astronomer Peers Deeper into Mysterious Flame Nebula

Postdoctoral researcher Matthew De Furio led the research that found the smallest brown dwarfs in the nebula.

Three telescope images of a colorful stellar nebula