Big Eye on Dark Skies:
Hobby-Eberly Telescope

Discover how astronomers explore the wonders of the universe in a new exhibit featuring a scale model of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), the largest optical telescope in North America.

Located at the McDonald Observatory in West Texas, this 80-ton marvel boasts a 10-meter mirror composed of 91 hexagonal segments, making it a powerhouse for astronomical research. Designed for spectroscopy, the HET deciphers light from stars and galaxies, aiding in the search for exoplanets, and studying distant galaxies and black holes.

The HET is integral to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX), which aims to map the early universe and unlock the secrets of dark energy. By capturing light from millions of galaxies, the telescope helps scientists understand the universe’s expansion and the role of dark energy over time.a