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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory is the renowned |
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astronomical research unit of The University of Texas at Austin and |
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is situated on two peaks in the Davis Mountains, where the night |
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skies are among the darkest in the continental United States; and |
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WHEREAS, The year 2019 is a special year for the McDonald |
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Observatory, as it marks the 80th anniversary of its establishment |
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and the 80th year since the dedication of the Otto Struve Telescope; |
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still in use today, the telescope was the second-largest telescope |
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in the world at the time and promised exciting new insights into the |
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universe; and |
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WHEREAS, This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the |
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first projection of light from the earth to the moon; observatory |
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researchers succeeded in the celestial projection by aligning the |
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Harlan J. Smith Telescope with optics placed on the lunar surface by |
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the Apollo astronauts; this scientific feat enabled researchers to |
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accurately determine the distance between the earth and the moon |
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and the precise orbit of the moon; and |
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WHEREAS, The observatory has continued to lead the way in |
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pioneering research through its impressive array of telescopes and |
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astronomical monitoring systems; in 2017, the Hobby-Eberly |
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Telescope began collecting data for the Dark Energy Experiment, a |
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project that has yielded the largest map of the universe ever |
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produced; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin has partnered with |
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other universities and research institutions around the world to |
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construct the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile; the expansive, |
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next-generation telescope will help researchers better understand |
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the origins of planetary systems, stars, galaxies, and black holes; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory has earned a reputation for |
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excellence in kindergarten through 12th grade astronomy education |
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and public outreach programs and has become one of the state's |
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greatest resources for teachers, students, astronomy enthusiasts, |
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and curious members of the public; and |
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WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory has kept the Lone Star |
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State at the forefront of astronomical research; observations and |
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discoveries made at the research center have had profound |
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implications for the development of astronomical study and will |
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continue to shape our understanding of the universe long into the |
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future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commend the staff and researchers at the McDonald |
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Observatory for pushing the frontiers of technology and science and |
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congratulate them on 80 years of research on the properties of the |
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universe; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the |
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observatory as an expression of esteem from the Texas Legislature. |