Sunday, March 25, 2012

McDonald Observatory

This was our awesome campsite @ the Davis Mountain State Park.

When I heard that the Observatory was 13 miles away, I decided that I would run there.

Andrew agreed to meet me so we could purchase tickets for the star party the following evening (and to give me a ride back).

I did not realize how much elevation gain was involved in that 13 miles...... Andrew rescued me shortly after the 10 mile mark. I would have had to walk the rest of the way.

Hee Hee.

We ended up making it to the Observatory in time for the afternoon tour...... I was a little sweaty and gross...... oh well.

Our tour guide was very passionate about astronomy (he was a geologist by trade).

View from outside the Hobby-Eberly Telescope.

The next night, we attended the star party. Got to see the moon like this. So impressive to see it with my own eyes........ photographs, and words, don't do it justice.

Amazing stuff!!

There is a sun dial just outside the visitor centre....... We checked; it was accurate.

I got to try freeze dried ice-cream for the first time. Unusual consistency, yet sooooooooo good.

Have you ever visited an observatory? Thoughts? Have you ever tasted something that was Freeze-Dried? Like it?

Gotta get me a high powered telescope.

4 comments:

northernbliss said...

How neat was that!!! Great experiences you have had and the pictures are amazing!!

JP said...

Got to try freeze dried ice cream back in the 80's at the Oak Ridge Science Museum. It was fun stuff, but I hated it. Still not a fan, but it was/is so cool.

BabyWilt said...

I really am so jealous, I would love to go to an observatory and look through a powerful telescope - dream come true :-)

The Green Girl said...

I have fond childhood memories of visiting observatories and of course we have the Griffith Observatory here in Southern California.

I love how you censored your texting - that cracked me up. You are too cute, girl!