George Observatory050

Budding astronomers can sample the George Observatory's magnificent stargazing, right on the Brazos Bend State Park grounds. A satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Observatory houses the Challenger Learning Center for Space Science Education, which takes participants on simulated space missions, complete with a mission control center and a spacecraft simulator. A meteorite exhibit features fragments of several famous meteorites, including a piece of the Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico meteorite, which fell to Earth in 1969.

The observatory also has three domed telescopes that allow visitors to gain firsthand knowledge of the beautiful and awe-inspiring sights of the night sky. Depending on the time of the month and the season of the year, you can see a variety of phenomena, such as Saturn's rings, cloud belts on Jupiter, a partial or total eclipse of the Moon, a bright meteor or fireball that lights up the ground, or the Milky Way.

The George Observatory is available by reservation on Friday nights for groups of 30 or more. During weekdays, school groups can attend astronomy classes by reservation. These classes feature a special tour of the research telescope and a view through a solar telescope, allowing visitors to see sunspots, flares, and the ever-changing gas prominences of the Sun.

Birthday party packages are available for children ages eight and up.

The Observatory and Challenger Learning Center also conduct summer science camps, in conjunction with the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Camps are held in Fort Bend County.