6.11A Celestial Objects
Earth and Space
Reading Science!
Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________________
McDonald Observatory
Lexile 1280L
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The Davis Mountains of West Texas offer
something spectacular to scientists that
few places in the world can offer. Once
the sinking sun falls below the horizon
and darkness settles in, the night sky
comes alive with what seems like an
endless amount of stars. McDonald
Observatory is situated on top of Mount
Locke and Mount Fowlkes. With hardly
any light pollution from city lights,
astronomers take full advantage of the
extra darkness. Operated by the
University of Texas at Austin, McDonald Observatory is one of the world’s
leading centers for astronomical research, teaching, and public education.
One of the darkest places in the United States, astronomers flock to the
observatory to study the many celestial objects in the sky with several
different high-powered telescopes.
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McDonald Observatory has a wide range of telescopes for astronomers to use.
A telescope works by gathering and focusing light from distant objects in the
sky. This light is then directed into an instrument attached to the telescope,
which makes the object appear bigger and brighter. An astronomer can then
study the object in great detail. Scientists who study the night sky observe
asteroids, planets, star clusters, stars, black holes, nebulae, comets, and even
galaxies that are billions of light years away. McDonald Observatory is home
to one of the largest optical telescopes in the world. Called the 9.2 meter
Hobby-Eberly Telescope, it is best used for spectroscopy, the decoding of light
from stars and galaxies. This allows astronomers to study these celestial
objects’ properties. The 2.7 meter
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6.11A Celestial Objects
Reading Science!
Earth and Space
Harlan J. Smith Telescope was built in 1969. It has light-gathering power
that is 250,000 times stronger than the human eye. NASA and the
University of Texas used this telescope to study the planets before sending
manned and unmanned spacecraft to explore. Now this telescope is used
for astronomical research on just about every clear Texas night.
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The 2.1 meter Otto Struve Telescope is the oldest telescope at the
observatory. Completed in 1938, this telescope has 150,000 times the
power of the human eye. Even with the many technological
improvements, this telescope is still used by astronomers. McDonald
Observatory also has a smaller 0.8 meter telescope. It is equipped with a
laser system that measures the distances between Earth and the Moon. It
is also capable of tracking the movement of Earth’s continents.
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One of the most interesting things about McDonald Observatory is that
not only is it home to astronomers and their research, but it is also open
for visitors. Year round, young and old visitors can tour the visitor’s center,
participate in a star viewing, listen to an astronomer speak in the large
theater, and tour the observatory’s largest telescope during the day.
Visitors may also attend a star party where astronomers allow guests to
take a gander through one of the high-power telescopes, and then sit in
an outdoor planetarium with an astronomer, who presents a star talk,
pointing out constellations and other celestial objects in the sky.
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Whether you want to visit McDonald Observatory or grow up and become
an astronomer that studies astronomical objects in the sky, McDonald
Observatory is an amazing facility located in the Davis Mountains of West
Texas.
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6.11A Celestial Objects
Reading Science!
1
How does a telescope work?
A
It works like a flashlight, shining
a beam of light at the object
you are looking at
B
It works by gathering and
focusing light that is then
directed into an instrument
attached to the telescope
C
D
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3
Astronomers look through an
eyepiece that makes objects
appear bigger
It has to be dark outside for a
telescope to work
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What is the significance of the 2.7
meter Harlan J. Smith telescope?
A
B
C
D
© 2011
Earth and Space
One telescope at McDonald
Observatory is used for
spectroscopy, allowing scientists to
study the properties of stars and
galaxies. Which telescope is this?
A
9.2 meter Hobby-Eberly
Telescope
B
2.7 meter Harlan J. Smith
Telescope
C
2.1 meter Otto Struve Telescope
D
0.8 meter telescope
Why do you think McDonald
Observatory is located in the Davis
Mountains of West Texas?
It is used for decoding light from
stars and galaxies
A
It tracks the movement of Earth’s
continents
Observatories must be built on
mountains
B
It was placed there to attract
visitors to the observatory
C
It is one of the darkest locations
in the United States and that
allows astronomers to have a
clearer view of the sky
D
It is operated by the University
of Texas at Austin
This telescope can measure the
distance between Earth and the
Moon
NASA and UT used this
telescope to study the planets
before sending spacecraft into
space to explore
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6.11A Celestial Objects
Reading Science!
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© 2011
Earth and Space
The oldest of the telescopes was
built in —
A
1956.
B
2002.
C
1938.
D
1974.
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