Home - Central Texas Astronomical Society

Notice

PJMO's 24-inch telescope is undergoing maintenance and is not currently available for night sky viewing. We will have other large aperture telescopes available for night sky viewing, weather permitting. The 24-inch telescope will be back online very soon and we will keep the CTAS website and social media updated.

For open house: Weather and viewing conditions permitting, we will have large aperture telescopes on the viewing field, and we encourage visitors and members to join us for some spectacular night sky viewing. For those of you considering the purchase of a smart telescope, we will have smart telescopes on the viewing field as well. Check the event on the calendar for the start time. There will also be a brief presentation and a facility tour.

For member star parties: Weather permitting, we will have large aperture telescopes on the viewing field, and we encourage members to join us for some spectacular night sky viewing. Feel free to bring your personal telescopes out as well. CTAS has an incredible amount of astronomical expertise that the members are more than willing to share. This is a great time to meet other members with common interests and have a great viewing session. Check the event on the calendar for the start time.

Welcome to the Central Texas Astronomical Society!

Our mission is to maintain the Turner Research Station, Paul and Jane Meyer Observatory, and Betty Smith Observatory, and inspire curiosity about the universe through public outreach of stargazing, education, astrophotography, and research.

Explore our history

Public Events

Every third Saturday of the month we hold an open house at the Meyer Observatory. These family-friendly events are open to the general public free of charge and are great for all ages! Open houses offer telescope viewing opportunities and a chance to learn more about the exciting world of astronomy. Although the event is free, we do encourage visitors to register ahead of time so we have an estimate of how many people to expect.

We also host other public stargazing events (star parties) at various locations in central Texas. Please see our calendar for more information about all of our public events and how to register.

Check our calendar

Membership

Ready to take your interest in astronomy to the next level? Join us and become a member. Membership offers numerous benefits:

Monthly member star parties during the new moon
Learn how to run the big telescope at our observatory
Participate in public outreach to promote the advancement of astronomy
And much more!

Learn about membership

Donations

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization comprised entirely of volunteers. Donations are graciously accepted and help us continue our mission. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

Support our mission

Still have questions? Need more information?

Newly Released - Q4 2025 Newsletter

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