Inaugural Giant Magellan Gala: Celebrating Walter Massey
On November 13, 2025, nearly 250 leaders in science, education, philanthropy, art, and industry came together beneath the historic dome of Chicago’s Adler Planetarium for the inaugural Giant Magellan Gala.
The evening honored two central forces driving the Giant Magellan Telescope’s success: the legacy of Dr. Walter E. Massey, who recently retired as Chairman of our Board of Directors, and the sixteen Founding Institutions whose early commitment set the observatory in motion. Together, they have brought to life a $2.6 billion endeavor, one of the largest public–private partnerships in science.
Guiding the program was Nobel Laureate and Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University, Dr. Brian Schmidt, who led the evening with warmth, perspective, and humor. In celebrating Dr. Massey’s legacy, the Gala also marked the launch of a new phase to support the next stage of construction — a defining moment for one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors of our time.
Honoring Dr. Massey
Dr. Walter E. Massey’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to scientific discovery, education, and public service. From his pioneering work in physics to his transformative leadership as a university president and national science figure, Dr. Massey has expanded opportunities for innovation and inclusion across generations.
This short film was featured at the Gala to honor the legacy of Dr. Walter Massey and the international consortium behind the Giant Magellan Telescope
As Chairman of the Giant Magellan Telescope Board of Directors from 2016–2025, he guided the project through a decade of remarkable progress. Dr. Massey strengthened partnerships, supported major design and construction milestones, and helped secure nearly $500 million in private and public funding. His leadership advanced a powerful public–private collaboration and positioned the Giant Magellan Telescope for its next era of discovery.
View Walter’s Career Highlights
In recognition of his lifetime of contributions — including his leadership with the Giant Magellan Telescope — an asteroid discovered on his birthday was named in his honor. Asteroid “Waltermassey” now carries his name among the stars. The recognition was initiated by Dr. Buell T. Jannuzi, Director of Steward Observatory and Head of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona.
“I decided we should find an astronomical way to honor Walter,” said Dr. Jannuzi. “So, I took advantage of being at the University of Arizona, home to one of the most successful asteroid-hunting teams on the planet, the Catalina Sky Survey, and reached out to Director Carson Fuls about naming an asteroid after him. Carson was an enthusiastic partner in drafting the citation for submission.”
A Glimpse of the Discoveries Ahead
One of the evening’s most inspiring moments was a scientific introduction delivered by three distinguished scientists from the Founding community. Dr. Allison Strom of Northwestern University and Dr. Sara Seager of MIT joined Dr. Rebecca Bernstein, Chief Scientist of the Giant Magellan Telescope, to share a powerful look at why we are building this extraordinary observatory.
Their remarks highlighted the big questions that drive modern astronomy, including how the first galaxies took shape, what the earliest chapters of the Universe reveal about our origins, and whether planets beyond our solar system might show signs of life. By focusing on their own research and how the Giant Magellan Telescope will help bring us closer to answers, they offered a clear and compelling picture of what this observatory will make possible.
It was a vivid reminder of the purpose behind the Giant Magellan Telescope and the unprecedented discoveries that lie ahead.
“Finding oxygen on another planet would be one of the most thrilling discoveries in human history — real evidence that another planet might be alive,” said Dr. Seager. “But that signal is unbelievably faint — almost impossibly faint. To see it, we need both enormous light collecting area and exquisite spectral precision. That’s where the Giant Magellan Telescope comes in.”
Celebrating the Founders
The Gala celebrated the international consortium whose early commitment set the observatory in motion. These leading universities and research institutions drive the scientific vision, technical leadership, and financial support needed to build one of the most advanced ground-based observatories in history.
Experiences Beyond the Ordinary
One of the most thrilling moments of the evening was the live auction, featuring three extraordinary astronomy packages generously donated by Founding members of the Giant Magellan Telescope’s international consortium. These overnight stargazing retreats — experiences that only our Founders can offer — invited guests to observatories around the world in the company of award-winning astronomers.
Dr. Brian Schmidt put it best:
“They’re private. They’re behind-the-scenes. They’re set in some of the most exotic and rarely visited locations on Earth — with skies so dark, you’ll feel like you can reach out and touch the stars.”
The auction gave attendees the chance to explore Arizona’s astronomical heritage and spend a night under the country’s largest dark-sky reserve at McDonald Observatory in Texas, or travel farther afield for stargazing in Australia’s first Dark Sky Park and at South Korea’s Sobaeksan National Park, home to the nation’s first modern observatory. The ultimate experience brought winners to the Giant Magellan Telescope site at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, stepping into the heart of one of the world’s most ambitious astronomical projects.
These once-in-a-lifetime packages captured the imagination of attendees and celebrated the adventurous spirit of the astronomical community to discover the unknown.
A New Era of Discovery
The evening concluded with a celebration of the leaders whose generosity and dedication made the Gala possible — the event Co-Chairs, Host Committee, and Sponsors. Their commitment set a powerful tone for what comes next for the Giant Magellan Telescope.
As Dr. Massey reminded us in his acceptance speech:
“My call to all of us tonight is simple: Stay curious. Keep believing in the value of knowledge and creativity. Keep supporting the people and ideas that move us forward. And keep working together to push the boundaries of what’s possible. The Giant Magellan Telescope embodies all of this.”
Together, our global community is bringing that vision to life.
