Ever dreamed of exploring outer space? Now you can—just an hour’s drive south of Houston.
Located in the scenic expanse of Brazos Bend State Park, the George Observatory is a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Housed here are three domed telescopes, including the 36-inch Gueymard Research Telescope, one of the largest in the United States.
Depending on the time of the month and the season, visitors can see a variety of phenomena—from the Milky Way and meteors to Saturn’s rings and cloud belts on Jupiter. Astronomy classes are offered regularly and there’s an excellent meteorite exhibit.
The observatory is also home to the Challenger Center, a learning experience that transforms students into scientists, engineers and researchers on a simulated space mission. Groups of young people can even enjoy an exclusive overnight experience at the observatory, including a night hike around Creekfield Lake in Brazos Bend park to see nocturnal wildlife.
The observatory is open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.