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Taking a Closer Look PDA

• Astronomy/Botany/Geology
• Field Experience
• June, 2006
• Presented By Marsha Willis
• Professional Development Coordinator
• Texas Regional Collaboratives

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Project Supporters

• Texas Education Agency
• Shell Oil
• Texas Regional Collaboratives

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Dates

• Session One- June 3-6, 2006
• Session Two- June 7-10, 2006

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TRC Staff at Austin Airport June 2, 2006
TRC Staff at Austin Airport
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Guadalupe Mountains National Park June 3, 2006
El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
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Plants of Guadalupe Mountains NPJune 3, 2006
Sweet treats for the insects
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Geology of Guadalupe Mountains NPJune 3, 2006
Theres oil in these rocks and it smells like
money!
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Guadalupe Mountains National ParkJune 3, 2006
Team One after a long hike in the canyon
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Woodward RanchJune 4, 2006
Trey Woodward shows us the different types of
agates found on his ranch.
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Woodward RanchJune 4, 2006
Participants try to identify their collection of
agates.
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 4, 2006
The participants are all very excited to be at
the observatory. Classes will begin after lunch.
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 4, 2006
Marc Wetzel, Education Coordinator at McDonald
Observatory, provides a lesson in reflection
using lasers.
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 4, 2006
Observing the Spectrum
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 4, 2006
Evening tour of the 2.7 meter telescope
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 4, 2006
Sunset over the Davis Mountains
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Mc Donald ObservatoryJune 5, 2006
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope has the largest
telescope mirror in he world
Carol Fletcher leads the pack during the tour of
the Observatory
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 5, 2006
Astronomer Dan Lester explains how the telescope
and instrumentation work together
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Balmorhea State ParkJune 5, 2006
A quick trip to the Dive shop and then snorkeling
in San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea State Park
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Balmorhea State ParkJune 5, 2006
Participants snorkel and observe endangered
fish.
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 5, 2006
Participants unpack telescopes for Star Party
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McDonald Observatory/Star Party June 5, 2006
Marsha Willis announces that the telescopes
belong to the participants and are donated by
Shell Oil Company
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 5, 2006
Sighting objects in their own telescopes
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 5, 2006
Night falls over the Davis Mountains
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 6, 2006
Geologist, Keith Brownlee, provides a lesson on
mineral identification
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 6, 2006
Lessons in modeling sun spots and magnetic fields
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Davis MountainsJune 6, 2006
A great time was had by all!
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Davis MountainsJune 6, 2006
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TRC StaffJune 7, 2006
Marsha Willis, Keith Mitchell, Carol Fletcher and
Jase Brooks
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El Paso, Texas June 7, 2006
Geologist, Keith Brownlee, leads a training on
rock and mineral identification
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Guadalupe Mountains National ParkJune 7, 2006
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Guadalupe Mountains National ParkJune 7, 2006
Geologist, Diane Brownlee, and husband Keith
instruct the participants on how to use their new
GPS units.
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Guadalupe Mountains National ParkJune 7, 2006
Unique geological features at Guadalupe Mountains
National Park include ancient reefs, lagoons and
ocean basins
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Roadside GeologyJune 7, 2006
Ferran Kasper demonstrates how not to collect
rocks using the rock hammer. Never use the
hammer above someone else-they will get hurt
for sure!
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Fort Davis State Park/Indian LodgeJune 7, 2006
Great accommodations!
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Woodward RanchJune 8, 2006
Looking for agates in all the right places
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Woodward RanchJune 8, 2006
Trey Woodward helps with agate sorting and
purchasing.
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Mc Donald ObservatoryJune 8, 2006
Marc Wetzel, Educational Coordinator at McDonald
Observatory, demonstrates how the mirrors at
the Hobby-Eberly telescope work.
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McDonald Observatory/Botany LessonJune 8, 2006
Lisa Bellows, botanist at NCTC describes the
different types of plants in the desert
environment.
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McDonald Observatory/Botany LessonJune 8, 2006
Taking a closer look at plants
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 8, 2006
Participants unpack the telescopes for the
evenings star party
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 8, 2006
Participants become very emotional when they
realize that the new
telescopes belong to them
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 8, 2006
Project Directors, Omah Williams and Kelly
Martinez, line up the sighting on their new
telescopes.
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McDonald Observatory/Star PartyJune 8, 2006
I can see the stripes on Jupiter
I can see the rings of Saturn
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Ft. Davis Post OfficeJune 9, 2006
Participants visit the local post office to ship
their telescopes home
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 9, 2006
Participants take a closer look at the
observatorys telescopes
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 9, 2006
A group tour of the 2.7 meter telescope
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 9, 2006
Marsha Willis demonstrates what not to do at the
observatory.
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Balmorhea State ParkJune 9, 2006
The 77,053 square ft San Solomon Spring is the
focal point of Balmorhea State Park. From 22 to
28 million gallons of water flow through the
spring-fed swimming pool each day
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Balmorhea State ParkJune 9, 2006
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Balmorhea State Park/San Solomon SpringsJune 9,
2006
San Solomon Spring trickles into the desert
creating a unique wetland
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 9, 2006
Much needed rain as night approaches.
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 9, 2006
Team two visits the cat walk as the storm
approaches
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 10, 2006
An excellent exhibit focusing on light and optics
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 10, 2006
Participants learn to read star maps
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McDonald ObservatoryJune 10, 2006
A great learning experience was had by all