Who We Are
Founded in 1939, The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory hosts multiple telescopes undertaking a variety of astronomical research under the darkest night skies of any professional observatory in the continental United States. McDonald is home to one of the world's largest telescopes, the 10-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope, and is pioneering the next generation of astronomical research as a partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope. The Observatory is an international leader in astronomy education and outreach, with StarDate radio as one of its flagship (and most beloved) outreach programs.
What We're Fundraising For
StarDate is the longest running national radio science feature in the United States. The daily two-minute program is heard by 2 million listeners on more than 350 radio stations across the country. Programs tell listeners what to look for in the night sky and explain astronomical science, history, and skylore, while keeping listeners up to date on the latest research findings and space missions.
StarDate production and distribution costs about $400,000, which is funded by listeners and readers, foundations, endowments, and donors like you! Every year, we need to raise about $100,000 in gifts to keep StarDate on air and in your hands.
Listen to an episode of StarDate online:
- April 9, 2026: Iodine (an essential element for human health created in violent collisions of stellar remnants!)
- April 16, 2026: Planetary Alignments
Listen to StarDate on your local radio station:
- Austin, TX: KUT 90.5 FM Sat & Sun at 7:04 p.m.
- Marfa, TX: KRTS Mon-Sun at 9:59 a.m. & 6:59 p.m.
- Find us on your station using our station finder tool
- Suggest a station in your area on which you’d like to hear StarDate by emailing stations@stardate.org
Your Impact
Your donation helps keeps StarDate Radio on the airwaves across the United States and beyond! Donations help us offset production costs, and hire top-notch science writers and voice talent — all to create unique content that educates millions of people about our universe.
StarDate by the numbers:
- $500 to record one episode of StarDate Radio
- $25,000 to print one issue of StarDate Magazine
- $30 to cover one school’s free subscription for a year. What a bargain!
- We spend over $30,000 in postage each year. That’s a lot of stamps!
Message from a StarDate reader and science teacher at public high school in Florida:
“I have been a high school astronomy teacher for a long time. I will always buy the Sky Almanac and magazines each year. At every chance, I tell every astronomy teacher about StarDate just like another teacher from Chicago told me 25 years ago. Thanks for all you do for education".
StarDate for Schools:
Thanks to funding from family foundations and endowments, we’re able to offer free annual subscriptions to StarDate magazine to teachers who attend our professional development workshops for their classroom and/or library. We also invite the public to sign up a Texas school in September during the Back-to-School magazine promotion.
Gifts to McDonald Observatory's StarDate Radio and Magazine contribute to...
Advocates 📣
Community Advocates
Generated 3281 clicks and 310 gifts, totaling $35,401Soh Nishiyama
Generated 302 clicks and 116 gifts, totaling $19,672Luke Mastrian
Generated 339 clicks and 233 gifts, totaling $18,348David Griffin
Generated 170 clicks and 61 gifts, totaling $11,515Randall Ford
Generated 113 clicks and 16 gifts, totaling $5,825Anna Boxall
Generated 295 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,765Mark Carella
Generated 130 clicks and 18 gifts, totaling $3,717Victoria Mena
Generated 97 clicks and 7 gifts, totaling $3,560Sam Zarou
Generated 71 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,260Katelyn Rood
Generated 174 clicks and 16 gifts, totaling $3,233Leaderboards & Donors 🎁
View All Donors
Advocates, you have until 10:00 p.m. CST to solidify your rankings. Good luck!
Gift Count Leaders
1. Luke Mastrian – 232
2. Soh Nishiyama – 116
3. David Griffin – 59
4. Jacob – 38
5. Rizky Pratama – 29
Dollars Raised Leaders
1. Soh Nishiyama – $19,672
2. Luke Mastrian – $18,338
3. David Griffin – $11,414.60
4. Randall Ford – $5,675
5. Mark Carella – $3,717
Winners will be announced on May 1.
35 days ago by Pablo MoraLonghorns, this is the final sprint of 40 Hours for the Forty Acres!
Make your final gift now and help push us across the finish line at 10:00 p.m. CST.
Competing on a leaderboard? Every gift and share can still change the standings and this is your last chance to claim advocate incentives.
35 days ago by Pablo MoraFinal hour, Advocates! Nothing is locked in! Every share and every gift can still change the leaderboard. The top five advocates in each challenge earn extra match dollars for the designation of their choice.
Gift Count Leaders
1. Luke Mastrian – 231
2. Soh Nishiyama – 116
3. David Griffin – 59
4. Jacob – 38
5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon – 25
Dollars Raised Leaders
1. Soh Nishiyama – $19,672
2. Luke Mastrian – $18,288
3. David Griffin – $11,414.60
4. Randall Ford – $5,675
5. Mark Carella – $3,717
One final update will be placed on the 40 for Forty site at 9:30 p.m. CST.
35 days ago by Pablo MoraHere’s where things stand right now in our Advocate Challenges. Every share and every gift counts, nothing is locked in yet. Remember that the top five advocates for each challenge get additional match dollars for a designation of their choice.
Current Leaders
Advocate Challenge: Gift Count Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest number of gifts so far:
1. Luke Mastrian - 189 gifts
2. Soh Nishiyama - 76 gifts
3. David Griffin - 48 gifts
4. Jacob - 27 gifts
5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon - 23 gifts
Advocate Challenge: Dollars Raised Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest cumulative dollars so far:
1. Soh Nishiyama - $13,950
2. Luke Mastrian - $13,428
3. David Griffin - $9,695
4. Randall Ford - $5,475
5. Mark Carella - $3,567
Huge thanks to our advocates who are pushing hard and setting the pace. Leaders, defend your spot as we make our way to the 10:00 p.m. CST finish line!
36 days ago by Pablo MoraWe’re excited to share a snapshot of the current standings in our two Advocate Challenges during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres. These rankings reflect where things stand right now and there’s still plenty of time to keep moving up! Remember that the top five advocates in each challenge get additional match dollars for a designation of their choice.
Advocate Challenge: Gift Count Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest number of gifts so far:
1. Luke Mastrian - 156 gifts
2. Soh Nishiyama - 35 gifts
3. David Griffin - 26 gifts
4. Jacob - 18 gifts
5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon - 15 gifts
Advocate Challenge: Dollars Raised Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest cumulative dollars so far:
1. Luke Mastrian - $8,943
2. Soh Nishiyama - $5,960
3. David Griffin - $4,945
4. Randall Ford - $4,375
5. Emily Quigley - $2,376
A huge thank you to everyone who has already stepped up as an advocate. Your outreach, enthusiasm, and commitment are powering 40 Hours for the Forty Acres.
Keep sharing your links, keep spreading the word, and keep up the great work, we can’t wait to see how these leader boards shift as we approach the finish on April 30 at 10 p.m. CST!
36 days ago by Pablo Mora