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The Astronomers Lodge

If you're the type who had a telescope at age 10 and fell in love with stargazing, you must already know about the McDonald Observatory, the nation's premier observatory in the Davis Mountains of West Texas--about 500 miles west of Dallas. McDonald is run by the Univ. of Texas and staffed by hundreds of scientists.

Unbeknowst to many, it's possible to not only visit the observatory but spend the night there--at The Astronomer's Lodge. But please bring a flashlight and turn your brights off. The lodge is without streetlights or any outdoor lighting, and guests are asked to check in between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. as the best galaxy viewings are at night. It's not more then a dormitory really--with 16 rooms (from $80 to $128, incl.all meals) a small cafe and one telephone. But you have access to some of the world's most advanced telescopes (like the Harlan J. Smith telescope above), lectures and 'star parties'. The area has views of thousands of stars and is the least affected by artificial light compared to anywhere else in the country. (No site for the Lodge, call 432-426-3640 for avail. and info.)

Related Stories:
·   The Stars of Texas [NY Times]