MRI: Acquisition of a 0.7-m Research Grade Telescope for Texas A&M University-Commerce

德克萨斯农工大学商科的物理与天文学系将在校园附近的一个地点开设一个新的研究级天文台。该天文台将配备一个直径0.7米的反射望远镜和一个CCD成像探测器，以及硬件和控制软件，以允许现场和远程半自主观测。新的天文台将用于多种目的：涉及大学生的科学研究，改进天文学课程，培训当地学校的天文学教师，以及向当地社区提供服务。该项目将对该地区及其他地区的学生教育产生重大影响，并培养出准备充分的一代科学家和领导人，从而为国家利益服务。大学的主要服务区域非常多样化，由很大比例的经济弱势社区组成，人口结构多样化。该研究项目将由德州农工大学商业天文学学院领导，并将包括该大学的本科生和硕士生，以及参加暑期项目的社区学院学生。这所大学的研究人员还将与国内和国际的天文学家合作。这个庞大而多样的观测研究计划将着重于明亮的、时变的天体，如旋转的小行星、灾难性的变星和脉动的白矮星。该团队还将通过对卫星任务中的系外行星候选者进行扩展的后续观测，帮助描述新发现的系外行星。

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University-Commerce will open a new research-grade astronomical observatory at a site near their campus. The observatory will feature a 0.7-meter diameter reflecting telescope with a CCD imaging detector, along with hardware and control software to allow both on-site and remote semi-autonomous observing. The new observatory will be used for multiple purposes: scientific research involving college students, improvement of astronomy classes, training of local school teachers in astronomy, and outreach to the local community. The project will serve the national interest by making a significant impact on the education of students in the region and beyond and creating an exceptionally well prepared generation of scientists and leaders. The primary service area of the university is extremely diverse and made up of a large percentage of economically disadvantaged communities with diverse demographics. The research program will be led by Texas A&M University-Commerce astronomy faculty and will involve undergraduate and masters-level students from the university, as well as students from community colleges participating in summer programs. The university researchers will also collaborate with astronomers both nationally and internationally. The large and varied observational research program will emphasize bright, time-variable astronomical objects such as rotating asteroids, cataclysmic variable stars and pulsating white dwarf stars. The team will also help characterize newly-discovered exoplanets by making extended follow-up observations of exoplanet candidates from satellite missions.