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务部物理与天文学系将在其校园附近的一个地点开设一个新的研究级天文天文台。天文台将配备一个直径0.7米的反射望远镜，带有一个CCD成像探测器，以及允许现场和远程半自主观测的硬件和控制软件。新的天文台将用于多种目的：大学生参与的科学研究，改进天文学课程，培训当地学校的天文学教师，以及与当地社区联系。该项目将对该地区及其他地区的学生教育产生重大影响，并培养出准备得特别充分的一代科学家和领导人，从而服务于国家利益。该大学的主要服务领域极其多样化，由人口结构不同的经济困难社区占很大比例。该研究项目将由德克萨斯A&A&M大学商业天文学教员领导，该大学的本科生和硕士研究生以及社区学院的学生将参加暑期项目。大学研究人员还将与国内外天文学家合作。大型和多样化的观测研究计划将重点放在明亮的、时变的天文物体上，如旋转的小行星、激变的变星和脉动的白矮星。该小组还将通过对卫星任务中的系外行星候选者进行更长时间的后续观测，帮助确定新发现的系外行星的特征。

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.