John Lineweaver
McDonald Observatory Davis Mountains
N 30 68.084', W 103 01.502';
Elevation 6602.3’ (at HET)
Content:
McDonald Observatory Tour
McDonald Observatory, one of the world's leading centers for astronomical research, is located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, which offer some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States. The Observatory works with the University of Texas Department of Astronomy on both research and teaching. McDonald's telescopes include:
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope
With its 9.2-meter (433-inch) mirror, the HET is one of the world's largest optical telescopes. It uses spectroscopy to search for planets, and studying distant galaxies, exploding stars, and black holes. The HET, dedicated in 1997, is a joint project of The University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
With its 9.2-meter (433-inch) mirror, the HET is one of the world's largest optical telescopes. It uses spectroscopy to search for planets, and studying distant galaxies, exploding stars, and black holes. The HET, dedicated in 1997, is a joint project of The University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
The Harlan J. Smith Telescope
Constructed 1966-68, the Smith Telescope has a 2.7-meter (107-inch) mirror, which was the third largest in the world when built. The telecope is used every clear night of the year.
Constructed 1966-68, the Smith Telescope has a 2.7-meter (107-inch) mirror, which was the third largest in the world when built. The telecope is used every clear night of the year.
The Otto Struve Telescope
Constructed 1933-39, the Struve Telescope was the first major telescope to be built at McDonald Observatory. Its 2.1-meter (82-inch) mirror was the second largest in the world at the time. The telescope is still in use today.
Constructed 1933-39, the Struve Telescope was the first major telescope to be built at McDonald Observatory. Its 2.1-meter (82-inch) mirror was the second largest in the world at the time. The telescope is still in use today.
Other Telescopes
McDonald also operates a 0.8-meter (30-inch) telescope, and a laser system that measures the distance between Earth and the Moon and tracks the drift of Earth's continents.
McDonald also operates a 0.8-meter (30-inch) telescope, and a laser system that measures the distance between Earth and the Moon and tracks the drift of Earth's continents.
Visitors Center
At the Visitors Center, events include star parties, public tours, and teacher and student activities.
At the Visitors Center, events include star parties, public tours, and teacher and student activities.
Reflection:
The immersion experience at the McDonald Observatory created new ideas for Instructional Team Member and/or Science Teacher Mentor field experiences in collaboration with one of our higher education partners. Each summer the Region 14 Collaborative partners with the Hardin-Simmons University
Department of Geology to conduct a graduate level course for science teachers. We concentrate on the TEKS that present themselves as needing attention based on the latest TAKS data. A focus on astronomy and related TEKS with a field experience in the Davis Mountains and McDonald Observatory may be our direction for 2007.
Additional Resources
McDonald Observatory has many telescopes
and we were able to visit them all.
Friday, June 9, 2006
