Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SCR60 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.C.R. No. 60
	1	+	By: Rodríguez S.C.R. No. 60
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4	4		SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
5	5		WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory is the renowned
6	6		astronomical research unit of The University of Texas at Austin and
7	7		is situated on two peaks in the Davis Mountains, where the night
8	8		skies are among the darkest in the continental United States; and
9	9		WHEREAS, The year 2019 is a special year for the McDonald
10	10		Observatory, as it marks the 80th anniversary of its establishment
11	11		and the 80th year since the dedication of the Otto Struve Telescope;
12	12		still in use today, the telescope was the second-largest telescope
13	13		in the world at the time and promised exciting new insights into the
14	14		universe; and
15	15		WHEREAS, This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the
16	16		first projection of light from the earth to the moon; observatory
17	17		researchers succeeded in the celestial projection by aligning the
18	18		Harlan J. Smith Telescope with optics placed on the lunar surface by
19	19		the Apollo astronauts; this scientific feat enabled researchers to
20	20		accurately determine the distance between the earth and the moon
21	21		and the precise orbit of the moon; and
22	22		WHEREAS, The observatory has continued to lead the way in
23	23		pioneering research through its impressive array of telescopes and
24	24		astronomical monitoring systems; in 2017, the Hobby-Eberly
25	25		Telescope began collecting data for the Dark Energy Experiment, a
26	26		project that has yielded the largest map of the universe ever
27	27		produced; and
28	28		WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin has partnered with
29	29		other universities and research institutions around the world to
30	30		construct the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile; the expansive,
31	31		next-generation telescope will help researchers better understand
32	32		the origins of planetary systems, stars, galaxies, and black holes;
33	33		and
34	34		WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory has earned a reputation for
35	35		excellence in kindergarten through 12th grade astronomy education
36	36		and public outreach programs and has become one of the state's
37	37		greatest resources for teachers, students, astronomy enthusiasts,
38	38		and curious members of the public; and
39	39		WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory has kept the Lone Star
40	40		State at the forefront of astronomical research; observations and
41	41		discoveries made at the research center have had profound
42	42		implications for the development of astronomical study and will
43	43		continue to shape our understanding of the universe long into the
44	44		future; now, therefore, be it
45	45		RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
46	46		hereby commend the staff and researchers at the McDonald
47	47		Observatory for pushing the frontiers of technology and science and
48	48		congratulate them on 80 years of research on the properties of the
49	49		universe; and, be it further
50	50		RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the
51	51		observatory as an expression of esteem from the Texas Legislature.
52		-	______________________________ ______________________________
53		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
54		-	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 60 was adopted by the Senate
55		-	on May 3, 2019.
56		-	______________________________
57		-	Secretary of the Senate
58		-	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 60 was adopted by the House
59		-	on May 10, 2019.
60		-	______________________________
61		-	Chief Clerk of the House
62		-	Approved:
63		-	______________________________
64		-	Date
65		-	______________________________
66		-	Governor