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.
Nevarez
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1392 was adopted by the House on April
23, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas