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        General Info
        The McDonald Observatory Visitors Center staff appreciate all of the positive reviews (and even some of the negative ones, too!) that well-meaning and well-intentioned visitors have left over the years. However, we feel that TripAdvisor does not provide anywhere close to the level of management tools needed to combat the misinformation that routinely is provided by, again, well-intentioned visitors to others visiting its pages. With no way other than the "management response" feature to cull and corral the sometimes wildly misleading information posted on these pages, we feel that using TripAdvisor for anything beyond getting the general feel of the establishment is pointless.The McDonald Observatory Visitors Center staff appreciate all of the positive reviews (and even some of the negative ones, too!) that well-meaning and well-intentioned visitors have left over the years. However, we feel that TripAdvisor does not provide anywhere close to the level of management tools needed to combat the misinformation that routinely is provided by, again, well-intentioned visitors to others visiting its pages. With no way other than the "management response" feature to cull and corral the sometimes wildly misleading information posted on these pages, we feel that using TripAdvisor for anything beyond getting the general feel of the establishment is pointless.
        Extra Phones

        TollFree: (877) 984-7827

        AKA

        McDonald Observatory Visitors Center

        Other Links

        http://mcdonaldobservatory.org

        https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors

        Categories
        Historical Places, Historical Monuments, Places Of Interest, Tourist Information & Attractions

        Reviews

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        pcolagasbuddy

        06/24/2014

        Overall
        Not what I expected at the star party. Pricey.

        We paid $12 per person for the star party event. We would have done better contributing to our local astronomy club. In the visitor center and museum it was crowded. Several interactive exhibits were inoperable. Gift store and cafeteria was pricey. Cafeteria ran out of some food items, on a Saturday night?! Near dark, everyone is asked to go to an outdoor theatre where you sit on stone benches. Space music is played, and then someone comes out and describes the weather issues, which telescopes will be viewing which objects, and utilizes a laser pointing to constellations. Although the telescopes are housed in what appear to be mini observatories, the reality is that these are high end strong telescopes that amateur astronomers could use in their own backyard or at amateur astronomy clubs. Do not expect to look through the giant telescopes on the mountain tops. About 400-500 people were at the star party. People were asked to not use bright cell phones, to cover up children's LED shoes, and to turn headlight beams on cars away from the viewing area when departing. We saw violations of light contamination at every turn. Overall, it was not what we expected. Simply too unprofessional. If a friend asked, I'd suggest they get involved in their local astronomy club rather than making a huge journey to this observatory star party.

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        Details

        Phone: (432) 426-3640

        Address: 3640 Dark Sky Dr, Mcdonald Obs, TX 79734

        Website: http://mcdonaldobservatory.org

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