Sul Ross State University - Brand Yearbook (Alpine, TX)

Page 11 text:

The dome for the giant 107- inch telescope looms over its visitors. Even when viewed from a dis¬ tance, McDonald Observatory Complex makes an impressive sight. I

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im A Sul Ross co-ed checks her camera before she continues her exploration of McDonald Observatory. Students stand in awe before the dome housing the 82-inch telescope. . . .McDonald Observatory Built with funds from an endowment of a Texas banker, W. J. McDonald, the McDonald Observatory complex has promoted the s tudy of astronomy throughout this hemisphere. Two telescopes, an 82-inch model and the newly erected 107-inch device, provide one of the great observatory centers of the world. Operated primarily by astronomers from the University of Texas, McDonald Observatory boasts an altitude of 6,800 feet. Its southerly latitude and its distance from artificial lights of big cities make Mount Locke an ideal site. In addition, the area has a high ratio of cloud-free nights, an important consideration for star gazing. Sul Ross students make up a large percentage of the people who are permitted to view the stars on the nights that the facilities are open to the public.

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Casa Grande looms from the floor of the Basin, a popular beauty spot. Deep in the heart of the Big Bend, The Window frames the more barren portion of the landscape.