Jack C. Davis Observatory

Enjoy a free lecture at 7:30 P.M., April 25, 2015 by WNC Professor Mike Thomas about the Early Years of Space Exploration at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College, Carson City Campus 2699 Van Patten St. Carson City, NV 89703

Yes. You are looking at a bunny with a pancake on its head, but I can explain. Today is National Pancake Day, so head over to the International House of Pancakes for your free short stack and donate to this year’s charity, the Children’s Miracle Network. It is also National ‘I Want You to Be Happy Day.’ Pancake Day and trying to share a smile, ergo silly picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head. Find your own way to share some happiness today.

Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory captured a rare event late last Sunday night, when an asteroid with a small moon entered Earth’s orbit. The asteroid identified as 2004 BL86 was spotted low on the horizon on the observatory’s 12-inch telescope at 10:30 p.m.

With the help of the Western Nevada Astronomical Society and the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College in Carson City, students and residents interested in astronomy can explore new worlds as part of a five-year citizen science astronomy research project to study the outer solar system.

Two planetary scientists, Marc Buie and John Keller, announced Tuesday the expansion of RECON — the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network — to 60 communities across the entire western United States.

The weekend has arrived in Carson City, what to do, what to do? The holiday bustle is behind us and a winter chill is in the air. It’s relatively quiet this weekend, but there are always a few options for entertaining yourself.

Western Nevada College is known for offering students an affordable and high quality education in a friendly, nurturing environment. But it has also been named one of the most attractive colleges in the United States. Affordableschools.net recently ranked WNC No. 8 in its list of the nation’s 30 Most Attractive Yet Affordable College Campuses.

On the list, WNC ranks ahead of such major universities as Texas A&M and Florida State. Great Basin College in Elko received a No. 16 ranking.

Welcome back to the first edition of the 2014-2015 Senator Square column: all news about Carson High School. Hope the summer was great for all of our staff and students. Staff returned last week and have been busy preparing for the students to arrive tomorrow.

The bell schedule for Monday will be an all period day, which means students will go to every one of their classes. The A-B Day rotation of classes will start on Tuesday when students will go to their A Day classes and Wednesday to their B Day classes. Classes begin at 7:40 a.m. and conclude at 2:05 p.m. each day.

Saturday evenings are stellar this summer at the Jack C. Davis Observatory of Western Nevada College. A series of free slide lectures will be offered through August 23. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. lectures.

On Saturday, July 26, John Dykes, a resident photographer, presents a lecture about the art of astrophotography. Dykes explains this process and shows many slides of his work.

Upcoming lectures include:

Saturday evenings will be stellar this summer at the Jack C. Davis Observatory of Western Nevada College. A series of free slide lectures will be offered, June 14 through August 23. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. lectures.

Mike Thomas will offer lectures on June 14, July 12, August 9 and August 23. John Dykes will offer a lecture on July 26. On all Saturday evenings, the observatory will continue its Saturday Star Parties featuring free telescope viewing at the Carson City location.

Lecture Topics include:

Making Western Nevada College the best educational experience possible for students brings pleasure to Rob and Dorothy Ramsdell. Over the past 15 years, the Carson City couple has been instrumental in improving programs, facilities, equipment and students’ educational opportunities at WNC.

Their unwavering generosity and support of WNC recently touched the college’s Bachelor of Technology (BTech) Construction Management program when they made a lead gift of $100,000 for the an endowed faculty chair position.

Get acquainted with the wonders of the night skies with Saturday evening ‘Star Parties’ at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College.

Popular lecturer Mike Thomas will offer free astronomy talks on on Saturday evenings, May 10 and May 24, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

May 10: "Ancient Alien Astronauts" will discuss whether there could have been extra-terrestrial visits to our planet in the past. This slide-show lecture separates fact from fiction.

Get acquainted with the wonders of the night skies with Saturday evening ‘Star Parties’ at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College.
Lecturer Mike Thomas will offer free astronomy talks on on Saturday evenings, April 12 and 26, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12, “Apollo 11, To the Moon" offers a slide-show lecture about the epic story of the mission that landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon in July 1969.

A fascinating and colorful exhibition of space photography is on display in Carson City at the Western Nevada College Main Art Gallery through August. 23. The collection contains several dozen large photographs of Earth’s moon, planets in our Solar System and their moons, and colorful nebulae.

A photograph of the Observatory under the night sky, taken over a 40-minute duration, offers a fascinating look at the movement of stars in the night sky.

CARSON CITY — For the fourth consecutive year, Western Nevada College will graduate its largest class in history. The class of 2013 is 505 students strong, with 530 degrees and certificates being issued.

Four students will receive Bachelor of Technology degrees in construction management, and three students will graduate with bachelor’s degrees as part of WNC’s teacher preparation partnership with Nevada State College. The graduates span 60 years, from the youngest at age 17 and the eldest at 77.

A research group will use Carson City volunteers to help measure Pluto early Saturday morning at the Jack C. Davis Observatory.

The Research and Education Cooperative Occultation Network, a citizen science research project exploring the outer solar system, is conducing a campaign to measure Pluto just before 1:30 a.m.

More than a decade ago, a Western Nevada College physics professor’s dream, a desire by college students to learn about astronomy, and the Carson City community's willingness to help make dreams come true, all converged to create the Jack C. Davis Observatory.

Now, WNC and the observatory staff and volunteers have planned a stellar celebration from May 2-15 to commemorate 10 years of science and discovery in Nevada’s capital city.

Two free lectures by science experts - one about the violent geologic history of Lake Tahoe, another concerning global warming, will highlight the many free activities at Western Nevada College during Earth Week, April 22-27.
Renewable energy exhibits, an organic gardening lecture, alternative fuel vehicles and a tree planting ceremony will also be featured.

“Many diverse and interesting activities will be offered,” said Valerie Andersen, WNC public service librarian and college Earth Week event coordinator. Students, faculty and the public are invited to attend.

Want a front row seat to the universe? Free weekly ‘Star Parties’ take place on most Saturday evenings at the Jack C. Davis Observatory on the Western Nevada College Carson City campus. Guests are encouraged to peer through telescopes at the night sky and visit with observatory volunteers, who are happy to answer questions.

On many evenings, slide lectures are offered by Michael Thomas, on a wide variety of astronomy-related topics. Doors open at 6 p.m., and lectures begin at 6:30 p.m.

Curiosity reaches across the universe most Saturday evenings at Western Nevada College's Jack C. Davis Observatory.

George Washington, American Hero

CARSON CITY, NEVADA-Carson City Library and the Carson City Historical Society will present Michael Thomas on Wednesday, February 22nd. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. This program will examine the life of the Father of our Country, George Washington. It is the story of a gentleman farmer who was moved to action and service for his country when he was needed most. His life demonstrated the true meaning of the phrase “Duty, Honor, Country.”

Michael Thomas, president of the Western Nevada Astronomical Society, will speak this Saturday at the Jack C. Davis Observatory of Western Nevada College on "Galileo the Astronomer."

The program begins at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 so visitors can look over the facility. After the discussion of Galileo guests can enjoy star watching through the Society's many fine telescopes and visit the main viewing room with the major telescopes used by astronomers.

The programs at the observatory are free and take place most Saturdays year round.

Don't miss this signature lecture of the Jack C. Davis Observatory. Mike Thomas will take you on a trip from the Sun, outward through the plantes, to deep space objects in our galaxy,and on to infinity. The topics cover many amazing facts, and astonishing Hubble Space Telescope images.

This lecture by Mike Thomas covers the life and accomplishments of this complex genius on June 4 at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College. Leonardo was the acknowledged expert of him time in a wide variety of disciplines, from Science to the Arts. The presentation includes many images of Leonardo da Vinci's work.

By Mike Wolterbeek
RENO, Nev. – A new era of stargazing is beginning in Northern Nevada with the completion of the MacLean Observatory astronomy complex at the Redfield Campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.

“The gift of the MacLean telescope and dome in 2008 set a series of events in motion that has enabled us to build the complex and expand astronomy programs for the university, the community and for K-12 students,” Jeff Thompson, dean of the College of Science, said.

Plated dinner, dessert & no-host bar. $100 per person or $800 tables of 8.
To benefit Wildcats Athletics, Jack C. Davis Observatory, Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company, and Fallon Campus scholarships.

This week's Star Party at the Jack C. Davis Observatory on the campus of Western Nevada College will feature a slide show and lecture presented by Mike Thomas. The topic is "Alexander the Great" and the discussion will be about the young Greek king who goes on to conquer the known world in the 3rd Century BC.
The observatory opens at 6 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. Free admission to the public. Please remember that the observatory will not open if it is snowing or there is snow on the roads.

Mike Thomas will present a slide-show lecture, " Lord Horatio Nelson, Admiral of the Seas" about the life of the most famous naval hero in history. The story goes from his life as a boy in the English countryside to his historic victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. It is the tale of a true hero, whose name lives on as the defender of his country, and as the role model for all men who set off for a life on the sea.

Jack C. Davis Observatory opens at 6 p.m. and the lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. Free admission to the public. Please remember that the Observatory

The Jack C. Davis Observatory at the Western Nevada College campus will host its Saturday Star Party. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Host Mike Thomas's popular slide-show lecture begins at 7:30 PM. This week's features is called "The Legend of King Arthur: The Once and Future King."
The presentation, which is filled with beautiful images, takes you on a journey through this classic historical tale of myth and fact, and addresses the question: how much of the Authurian Legend is true?

The Star Party at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College in Carson City will be held on Saturday and will feature a lecture entitled "Infinity and Beyond" by Mike Thomas. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the lecture to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Western Nevada College invites the public to a free viewing of the eclipse at the Jack C. Davis Observatory tonight beginning at 9 p.m. The dimming of the Moon begins at 9:27 p.m. and a subtle red glow will develop as the shadow of the Earth on the Moon gets darker.
The Earth will cast its shadow and totally engulf the Moon from 11:41 p.m. to 12:53 a.m. PST.
The lunar eclipse will be easily viewed with the naked eye, and volunteer members of the Western Nevada Astronomical Society (WNAS) will be available to answer any questions about the eclipse.