.UT Austin and 14 other partner institutions received official approval from the U.S. National Science Foundation to advance the Giant Magellan Telescope into its Major Facilities Design Phase on June 11. If the telescope is approved, it will receive federal funds for its official construction set to take

Texans showed up for the night sky 🌌 On April 25, DarkSky Day united volunteers, lawmakers & advocates at the Texas Capitol to fight light pollution and protect our stars. See what we accomplished 👉 darkskytexas.org/darksky-day-at… #DarkSkyTexas #ProtectTheNight #LightPollution

If you’re a #UTAustin student who needs extra support, we’re here to help. 🧡🤘 Learn more: deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sos/

✨ 📷 Only a few spots are left for our September Astrophotography Workshop, but August has lots of room for you! Find out more here: ow.ly/ttaZ50WnVel

🔴 The first successful Mars mission flew past the planet 60 years ago! Astronauts and cosmonauts first met in space 50 years ago! Join us this week for details on both of these milestones, plus a dim planet and much more, right here — on StarDate! ow.ly/elzx50WoTOB

Our Chief Scientist Rebecca Bernstein joined Planetary Society Planetary Radio to share how the Giant Magellan Telescope will open new frontiers in exoplanet science, dark matter & galaxy evolution. Listen here #ICYMI planetary.org/planetary-radi…

One step closer to completion 🔭🚧 The Giant Magellan Telescope Telescope has reached a critical construction milestone: the final design phase. As a partner, Northwestern will contribute its expertise in astrophysics, AI and engineering. spr.ly/601844k54

A giant storm on the Sun last year caused chaos in Earth orbit! A giant storm on Jupiter inches its way around the planet! We'll share details on these and a whole lot more, this week — on StarDate! ow.ly/K93j50WsFAW

✨ 🦇 Hubble update! Our Stowaway Bat Friend Returns to McDonald Observatory this Friday!! Learn about his exciting homecoming: ow.ly/52mF50WsURX #WildlifeWednesday

🌞 Explore the Sun with McDonald Observatory in our July livestream - All about the Sun! Weather permitting, we'll show you live views of the Sun, discuss its cycle, how it creates auroras on Earth, and much more. Hope you can join us! ow.ly/PUub50Wueuv #livestream #solar #auroras

In my latest piece for NPR, we visit McDonald Observatory, where locals and visitors from around the country come to experience a vanishing and free natural resource: some of the darkest nighttime skies in the world. npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-…

Launch of the official meeting in the dome of our 107-inch telescope at McDonald Observatory BOV mtg. Updates: recently discovered most distant black hole & most distant galaxy. Serious advs applying machine learning to astrophysical problems like stellar composition, & dark matter prpty

“We call our lack of understanding of the expansion of universe ‘dark energy.’” Prof Karl Gephardt McDonald Observatory

🌞 Join our Solar Livestream this morning! ow.ly/ia1350WxpqV

Giant Magellan is built by an international consortium of 15 universities and research institutions. Driven by U.S. innovation, we’re creating a next-generation observatory that strengthens scientific diplomacy and economic opportunity. giantmagellan.org/americanimpact #giantdiscoveries

🌞 Miss the Solar Tour yesterday? No worries! You can visit our YouTube channel any time to explore previous livestreams! youtube.com/user/mcdonaldo…

The stars of the Summer Triangle shine through the moonlight this week — two stars that are close and bright, and one that’s distant and brilliant. Join us for the Summer Triangle, cosmic harmony, and much more, this week — on StarDate! ow.ly/AVJE50WztgO

At Astronomy Afternoons at Texas Science & Natural History Museum, watch a hands-on spectroscopy demo in the "Big Eye on Dark Skies" exhibit, featuring a scale model of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope! Aug 8, 15 & 22, 2-3pm. Included with museum admission. sciencemuseum.utexas.edu

🍎 FREE Star Party passes for teachers, and so much more - Check out SkyTips for August!! conta.cc/4mlydYt

Texas Research Impact: NaturalSciences @ UT researchers are pushing the boundaries of astronomy. Using ESA Webb Telescope data, they’ve confirmed the earliest known black hole — offering new insight into how galaxies formed in the early universe. 🔗 utex.as/3J50p3o