Exploring the dark side of the cosmos News Staff Wed, 08/19/2026 - 18:15 In-page image(s) X Body Space exploration has long been a part of Far West Texas, particularly in the Davis Mountains.

The McDonald Observatory was built and dedicated on May 5, 1939, with funding from Texas banker William Johnson McDonald, who left the bulk of his money to the University of Texas to build an astronomical observatory.

The first telescope was officially dedicated on that day in May and sits atop Mount Locke.