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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On September 1, 2013, McDonald Observatory in Jeff |
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Davis County is initiating a yearlong celebration of the 75th |
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anniversary of the dedication of its first telescope and the 50th |
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anniversary of its affiliation with The University of Texas at |
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Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the great centers for astronomical research |
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and education in the world, McDonald Observatory was founded as the |
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result of a bequest by Texas banker William Johnson McDonald and |
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situated far from city lights on Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains, |
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under the clear, dark skies of West Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The observatory's first instrument, a 2.1-meter |
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reflecting telescope, was dedicated on May 5, 1939; it was the |
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second-largest telescope in the world at the time, and it was later |
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named for the observatory's first director, the eminent Russian |
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astronomer Otto Struve, who served from 1932 until 1950; originally |
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run under contract by the University of Chicago, the observatory |
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was taken over by The University of Texas in 1963; the first UT |
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director was Dr. Harlan J. Smith, who served for the next quarter of |
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a century; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the Otto Struve Telescope has been |
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joined by the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope on Mount Locke |
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and the 9.2-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope on the adjacent Mount |
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Fowlkes, as well as by a variety of smaller, more specialized |
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instruments; astronomers from around the world have used these |
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telescopes to make important discoveries about planetary systems, |
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stellar spectroscopy, the interstellar medium, and extragalactic |
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astronomy; and |
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WHEREAS, During the observatory's anniversary year, the |
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Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) will map the |
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three-dimensional positions of 1 million galaxies up to 11 million |
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light years away, yielding the largest map of the universe ever |
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produced and helping to establish the nature of dark energy, one of |
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the greatest mysteries in science today; The University of Texas is |
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also a partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope project, which will |
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create a new generation of earth-based telescopes using 7 mirrors |
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to make up an optical surface 80 feet across, with 10 times the |
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resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to its leadership in research, McDonald |
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Observatory is one of the Lone Star State's great resources for |
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teachers, students, and the public; 60,000 visitors a year enjoy |
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the observatory tour, the exhibits in the Frank N. Bash Visitors |
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Center, and the public star-viewing parties every Tuesday, Friday, |
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and Saturday; the observatory regularly hosts continuing education |
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programs for teachers and activities for K-12 students; and |
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WHEREAS, McDonald Observatory also reaches a national |
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audience with its popular StarDate radio program, the |
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longest-running science feature in the country, playing daily on |
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more than 300 stations nationwide; StarDate magazine, originally |
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founded as McDonald Observatory News in 1973, has been a color, |
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bimonthly magazine since 1988, and the StarDate website offers |
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sky-watching tips and news about the observatory to people around |
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the world; and |
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WHEREAS, For three quarters of a century, McDonald |
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Observatory has actively participated in some of the most |
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staggering scientific discoveries of modern times and enriched the |
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lives of countless visitors with its innovative education programs, |
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and its continuing efforts to push the boundaries of the human |
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understanding of the cosmos are truly worthy of recognition on this |
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special anniversary; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of the |
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dedication of the first telescope at McDonald Observatory and |
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extend to the observatory's scientists, technicians, and staff |
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sincere best wishes for continued success with their exciting work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for McDonald Observatory as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |