Can't Close the Cosmos

Magical West Texas attraction reopens to the public for spectacular stargazing

The observatory's signature star parties will resume August 28.

Photo by Ethan Tweedie Photography, McDonald Observatory/Facebook

After closing on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory is reopening to the public on Friday, August 28.

The acclaimed West Texas observatory, named one of the best places in the U.S. to see stars, will require online reservations during this initial reopening phase. Tickets go on sale August 24, and all outdoor programs will be held at 25 percent capacity.

"It is a pleasure to welcome visitors back to McDonald Observatory for our iconic programs that immerse our guests in astronomy, our very dark night skies, and the visible cosmos," says director Taft Armandroff in a release. "Our team at the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center is eager to host you."

Beginning with a "star party" on August 28, observatory visitors will be provided with scheduled entry tickets to allow time for cleaning between programs. Visitors will drive their own vehicles to the summit of Mount Locke for daytime guided tours; shuttle transportation will not be provided.

To ensure the safety of its visitors and staff, the observatory is taking additional steps:

Packaged food and drinks will be available for purchase, but no food will be prepared on site.
Frequently touched surfaces such as door handles and tabletops will be cleaned twice daily with bleach or alcohol-based solutions.
Hand-sanitizing stations will be provided.
Public restrooms will be treated as single occupancy.
New signs will be posted reminding everyone of best hygiene practices.

The observatory will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and to heed the advice of national, state, and local health authorities. If the situation improves, the observatory may increase the capacity of public programs and start holding some programs indoors.

Since it closed to the public five months ago, the observatory has been livestreaming new programs to interact with astronomy lovers. These popular Deep Sky Tours, Moon Tours, and Solar Tours will continue once the visitors center reopens for onsite public programs.

vacation science

it's park season

Texas' 2 national parks rank among 30 best in the U.S. for 2026

Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash

Leave the car behind and embrace the rugged beauty of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park out in far west Texas offer the best views of the American wilderness in 2026, according to a new national list.

The recognition comes in HomeToGo's "2026 National Parks Report," a new "data-driven ranking" of 51 national parks located in the contiguous U.S. Parks are evaluated across various factors including their proximity to major transport hubs, annual visitor figures adjusted for seasonal accessibility, and the median nightly cost per person for vacation accommodations in the area surrounding each park in 2026.

Guadalupe Mountains ranked as the 16th best national park to visit this year, and it has the fifth-most affordable vacation accommodations out of all the parks on the list. Nearby lodging costs about $62 per person per night, but campers can stay at one of the three developed campgrounds at the park for as little as $20 per night.

Visitors can go hiking and backpacking across 80 miles of rugged trails, but don't expect to take any vehicles far into the parkland. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is almost entirely road-free, allowing for the protection of local wildlife and the preservation of the park's beautiful scenery.

Travelers on the hunt for the perfect scenic drive can instead head over to Big Bend National Park, which ranked as the 26th best must-see national park in 2026. There are over 100 miles of paved roads around the park for exploration, as well as improved and primitive dirt roads.

Big Bend National Park is a popular choice for Texas travelers. Photo by Backroad Packers on Unsplash

The National Park Service (NPS) offers route recommendations specifically for day trippers.

"Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin," the NPS website says. "The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive will give you fantastic views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape and will lead you to the banks of the Rio Grande. There are scenic overlooks and exhibits along the way, and the short walks to Sam Nail Ranch and Homer Wilson Ranch and a visit to the Castolon Historic District will give you a glimpse into Big Bend’s past."

Visitors that want to turn their day trips into overnight stays near the park can do so for about $96 per person per night, or they can camp on-site with nightly fees starting at $16. Travelers can additionally book a room at the Chisos Mountains Lodge or Big Bend Station, but Chisos Mountains Lodge will temporarily close on May 1 while the NPS completes two Chisos Basin improvement projects over the next two years.

A HomeToGo survey said about 40 percent of Americans are planning national park trips in 2026, with millennials and Gen Zers showing a higher interest in exploring the American wilderness.

"At HomeToGo, we believe vacation planning should be fun, but we know it’s not always a walk in the park," said spokesperson Eleanor Moody. "That’s why this year’s index ranks destinations based on affordability, crowd levels, and convenience in terms of nearby accommodation availability and ease of access, making it easier than ever for travelers to pinpoint an ideal destination based on what’s most important to them."

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