S.C.R. No. 60
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory is the renowned
astronomical research unit of The University of Texas at Austin and
is situated on two peaks in the Davis Mountains, where the night
skies are among the darkest in the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, The year 2019 is a special year for the McDonald
Observatory, as it marks the 80th anniversary of its establishment
and the 80th year since the dedication of the Otto Struve Telescope;
still in use today, the telescope was the second-largest telescope
in the world at the time and promised exciting new insights into the
universe; and
WHEREAS, This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the
first projection of light from the earth to the moon; observatory
researchers succeeded in the celestial projection by aligning the
Harlan J. Smith Telescope with optics placed on the lunar surface by
the Apollo astronauts; this scientific feat enabled researchers to
accurately determine the distance between the earth and the moon
and the precise orbit of the moon; and
WHEREAS, The observatory has continued to lead the way in
pioneering research through its impressive array of telescopes and
astronomical monitoring systems; in 2017, the Hobby-Eberly
Telescope began collecting data for the Dark Energy Experiment, a
project that has yielded the largest map of the universe ever
produced; and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin has partnered with
other universities and research institutions around the world to
construct the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile; the expansive,
next-generation telescope will help researchers better understand
the origins of planetary systems, stars, galaxies, and black holes;
and
WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory has earned a reputation for
excellence in kindergarten through 12th grade astronomy education
and public outreach programs and has become one of the state's
greatest resources for teachers, students, astronomy enthusiasts,
and curious members of the public; and
WHEREAS, The McDonald Observatory has kept the Lone Star
State at the forefront of astronomical research; observations and
discoveries made at the research center have had profound
implications for the development of astronomical study and will
continue to shape our understanding of the universe long into the
future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commend the staff and researchers at the McDonald
Observatory for pushing the frontiers of technology and science and
congratulate them on 80 years of research on the properties of the
universe; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the
observatory as an expression of esteem from the Texas Legislature.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 60 was adopted by the Senate
on May 3, 2019.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 60 was adopted by the House
on May 10, 2019.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor