MCDONALD OBSERVATORY, Texas — The Mcdonald Observatory is attracting visitors from all over the world who are making a stop before they head to their destinations to get in the path of totality to experience the eclipse.
Suzzane is one of sixty-three members of an MIT Alumni Tour group who were excited to be touring the observatory. “We are coming by on our way to Uvalde to see an eclipse. We hope. I think most of these people are interested in astronomy and so my husband is a retired radio astronomer. So, seeing the observatory is a lot of fun for him. He’s actually used this telescope. So, this has been a cool visit for us," she said.
The smiles and excitement can be seen and felt by all who are at the McDonald Observatory. Over forty people with the Omega Holiday Tour Group have traveled thousands of miles over the Atlantic Ocean.
Peter Truman was at the observatory and had to say, "Most are from the UK. We have two from Austria and four from Germany joining us. We are having a super time here in Texas.”
Peter Lawrence, a well-known astronomer with the Omega Holiday Tour Group, was at the observatory as well. "I am on a television program that is broadcast by the BBC. It is one of the longest-running television shows in the world, with one presenter. Unfortunately, he died in 2021. That was St. Patrick Moore. It started in April 1957. It is called The Sky at Night.”
While Mr. Lawerence is taking a slight break from his show, The Sky at Night, the tour group and him are not taking any breaks here in Texas, visiting various tour sites on their trip and heading to the path of totality to view the total eclipse. "It is just an amazing thing. You get bitten by the bug to become an eclipse chaser, and you just want to stand in the shadow of the moon as long as you possibly can, "Lawrence added.