The Hunewell Ranch is 1172 acres of land used by Tarleton State University for a variety of educational needs. Located at the Hunewell Ranch, 8 miles east of Stephenville, Texas, the Tarleton State University Observatory is an 840 sq. ft. facility with a 20.5 ft. (wide slit) ash dome used by the Program for Astronomy and Research.
Historical Overview: Observatory
A fully robotic research-grade telescope was installed at the Hunewell Ranch and became operational in the Fall of 2005. The observatory is the third largest in Texas and one of the few fully robotic telescopes in the world. The fully robotic feature allows participants to maneuver the motorized telescope through their observation instructions, exploring everything from weather on Mars to near-earth asteroids, and get their results back quickly.
The observatory measures 884 total square feet and includes the 20-foot diameter dome with opening and closing capabilities and is viewable through glass from the control room. The office of the Program for Astronomy and Research is located at Hunewell Ranch.
If you have any questions concerning the Observatory, please call at 254-968-9730.