Bill Text: TX SCR60 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the McDonald Observatory on the occasion of its 80th anniversary.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-21 - Signed by the Governor [SCR60 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SCR60-Enrolled.html
| S.C.R. No. 60 | ||
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| 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 | ||
