District VII Community Connections: It’s in the stars

Feb 11, 2014

‌What an exciting year it's been for the HCC Stafford TV studio and head of production, Don Wells, and his staff. HCC Southwest, in a partnership with Rice University and the University of Texas, has helped refurbish the .8 meter (30-inch) research telescope at McDonald Observatory in West Texas. In November, HCC Southwest faculty, including Don Wells and co-principle investigator for the project, Juan-Carlos Reina, travelled to the McDonald Observatory to train on the revamped telescope.

The project is called TORRE (Texas Observatory for Remote Research and Education). After five years of planning and preparation, the now rebuilt telescope features modern computer control, permitting observers to operate it remotely, via the Internet, from any classroom or lab in HCC.

Beginning this year, HCC Southwest will begin using the TORRE scope as part of the astronomy curriculum. Congratulations to Don and the staff at HCC Stafford.

Production Manager and co-investigator of the project Don Wells stands with the TORRE scope.