Modernization of the University of Texas 16-Inch Undergraduate Telescope

1975年，该大学获得了一台16英寸的望远镜；该望远镜存在严重的驱动问题，限制了制导精度和目标捕获速度。这台望远镜并没有为这个国家最大的天文学项目之一的天文学专业学生和其他用户提供一个足够的教育或研究系统。该项目将安装和驱动系统替换为更精确的系统，并纳入计算机控制。新系统能够以不同的速率跟踪，从而可以观测太阳系的物体。与望远镜的现代化相结合，新的实验室练习可以编写和现场测试。望远镜主要用于高年级的三门天文学课程：一门新课程“天文技术”，作为现有课程“位置、动力和运动学天文学”的补充，以及为未来的中学科学教师设计的现有实验课程“天文学方法”。在时间允许的情况下，一些低年级学生可以在目前的一学分课程中使用。

The university acquired a 16-inch telescope in 1975; this telescope has severe drive problems that limit the guiding accuracy and speed of target acquisition. The telescope does not offer the astronomy majors and other users at one of the largest astronomy programs in the country an adequate system for education or research. This project replaces the mount and drive system with a more accurate system and incorporate computer controls. The new system is capable of tracking at different rates, thus allowing the observation of solar system objects. In conjunction with the modernization of the telescope, new laboratory exercises can be written and field-tested. The telescope is used primarily in three upper division astronomy courses: in a new course on "Astronomical Techniques," as a supplement to an existing course on "Positional, Dynamical, and Kinematical Astronomy," and within an existing laboratory course designed for future secondary science teachers on "Methods of Astronomy." Time permitting, some use by lower division students within a current one-credit-hour course is envisioned.