83R13522 JGH-D
By: Nevarez H.R. No. 1392
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On September 1, 2013, McDonald Observatory in Jeff
Davis County is initiating a yearlong celebration of the 75th
anniversary of the dedication of its first telescope and the 50th
anniversary of its affiliation with The University of Texas at
Austin; and
WHEREAS, One of the great centers for astronomical research
and education in the world, McDonald Observatory was founded as the
result of a bequest by Texas banker William Johnson McDonald and
situated far from city lights on Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains,
under the clear, dark skies of West Texas; and
WHEREAS, The observatory's first instrument, a 2.1-meter
reflecting telescope, was dedicated on May 5, 1939; it was the
second-largest telescope in the world at the time, and it was later
named for the observatory's first director, the eminent Russian
astronomer Otto Struve, who served from 1932 until 1950; originally
run under contract by the University of Chicago, the observatory
was taken over by The University of Texas in 1963; the first UT
director was Dr. Harlan J. Smith, who served for the next quarter of
a century; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Otto Struve Telescope has been
joined by the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope on Mount Locke
and the 9.2-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope on the adjacent Mount
Fowlkes, as well as by a variety of smaller, more specialized
instruments; astronomers from around the world have used these
telescopes to make important discoveries about planetary systems,
stellar spectroscopy, the interstellar medium, and extragalactic
astronomy; and
WHEREAS, During the observatory's anniversary year, the
Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) will map the
three-dimensional positions of 1 million galaxies up to 11 million
light years away, yielding the largest map of the universe ever
produced and helping to establish the nature of dark energy, one of
the greatest mysteries in science today; The University of Texas is
also a partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope project, which will
create a new generation of earth-based telescopes using 7 mirrors
to make up an optical surface 80 feet across, with 10 times the
resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope; and
WHEREAS, In addition to its leadership in research, McDonald
Observatory is one of the Lone Star State's great resources for
teachers, students, and the public; 60,000 visitors a year enjoy
the observatory tour, the exhibits in the Frank N. Bash Visitors
Center, and the public star-viewing parties every Tuesday, Friday,
and Saturday; the observatory regularly hosts continuing education
programs for teachers and activities for K-12 students; and
WHEREAS, McDonald Observatory also reaches a national
audience with its popular StarDate radio program, the
longest-running science feature in the country, playing daily on
more than 300 stations nationwide; StarDate magazine, originally
founded as McDonald Observatory News in 1973, has been a color,
bimonthly magazine since 1988, and the StarDate website offers
sky-watching tips and news about the observatory to people around
the world; and
WHEREAS, For three quarters of a century, McDonald
Observatory has actively participated in some of the most
staggering scientific discoveries of modern times and enriched the
lives of countless visitors with its innovative education programs,
and its continuing efforts to push the boundaries of the human
understanding of the cosmos are truly worthy of recognition on this
special anniversary; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of the
dedication of the first telescope at McDonald Observatory and
extend to the observatory's scientists, technicians, and staff
sincere best wishes for continued success with their exciting work;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for McDonald Observatory as an expression of high regard
by the Texas House of Representatives.