Painter Hall Telescope

Friday and Saturday Night Public Viewing

 

Remaining Fall 2024 semester schedule

November 8 - December 7
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

** No viewing November 29 & 30 **

 

Please call 512-232-4265 for weather cancellation information. This line is updated approximately 30-45 minutes before the scheduled start time. (If you get an old message from an earlier date, that means the line has not been updated for the current date yet.)

Every Friday and Saturday while UT is in session the Department of Astronomy hosts free viewing on the Painter Hall Telescope. Painter Hall is located at the corner of 24th street and Inner Campus Drive, just to the north of the UT Tower. Click here for map to Painter Hall and nearby parking garages. (Garage rate information is available here.)To get to the telescope, take the elevator to the 5th floor and exit to the left. Follow the 5th floor hallway to the end and take the staircase through the double doors on the left. Once you reach the 6th floor, go to your right and follow the signs up to the telescope.

No reservations are required. All ages are welcome, but we ask that younger children be under adult supervision at all times. Viewing times change throughout the year, so please check this page before planning your visit.  If you are interested in bringing a small group of 15 or fewer, you may come to a public viewing night without prior arrangements or reservations. If you plan on bringing a group of more than 15, please notify Lara Eakins at least two weeks in advance to avoid having too many groups show up on the same evening. Please note: we do not do private events for groups or individuals.

Public viewing nights occur throughout the year while the university is in session. Typically spring semester viewing runs from mid-January to late April/early May, summer sessions viewing runs from early-to-mid June to mid-August, and fall semster viewing runs from early September to late November/early December. The other telescope on campus is located at the Physics, Math and Astronomy building and is open on Wednesdays.

Public Viewing Frequently Asked Questions