The Board of Visitors

entrance to the visitor's center

The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy Board of Visitors is a supporters' group for the Texas Astronomy Program. The Texas Astronomy Program ranks among the top astronomy programs in the United States and the world. For that reason, many Texans participate in the Board of Visitors who are not UT alumni. The BoV includes business people, educators, attorneys, scientists, artists, architects, and engineers. In fact, this diversity is considered one of the great strengths of the Board of Visitors.

The Board of Visitors has accomplished great things for the Texas astronomy program, from funding chairs, professorships, and fellowships to helping develop private contributions for the magnificent Hobby-Eberly Telescope and the new McDonald Observatory Visitors Center. Other BoV committees have been organized to assist the Observatory in its work. These include the Planned Giving Committee, which is working to raise funds for McDonald Observatory's future; and the Lighting Ordinance Committee, which helps maintain the dark skies of West Texas by working to shield city and rural lights.