Night Sky

Here are the winning pictures judged by the Carson City Photo Club as part of its monthly photo contest. The theme addressed by the August winners was "Night Sky."

Nevada’s open roads are beckoning travelers who have been home-bound since mid-March. At a time when 18 states currently won’t accept Nevadans unless they quarantine for two weeks, it’s tempting to hop in the family car and explore Nevada history and nature giving you the opportunity to escape the tedium caused by the pandemic and to temper your wanderlust.

A rescue at sea is always riveting, but the 2020 New Year's Eve Rescue gave me chicken skin all over. In full disclosure I have not ventured out to sea since our honeymoon when my wife did most of the fishing and I did most of the crabbing. Unless standing on shore, anchored in sand, I have no love for the sea. To me a sea cruise is being under house arrest, but with a chance of "drownding."

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region over the next three days. Events include the Rockabilly Riot car show, Dayton Valley Days, a pancreatic cancer awareness walk at Silver Oak Golf Course, the annual Pooch Plunge at the Carson Aquatic Facility, horse endurance races in Virginia City, history talks at Mormon Station Park and much more!

CARSON CITY — Nevada residents and visitors are invited to celebrate Nevada Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 28 with a “fee-free” day at Nevada’s State Parks. Park fees, including entrance, camping (Saturday night) and boating, where applicable, will be waived at state parks throughout Nevada.

Registration is now open for the Sky Dome Planetarium coming to the Carson City Community Center gymnasium on Friday. The Mobile Ed Productions planetarium has been rescheduled after being canceled in June.

UPDATE SUNDAY, JUNE 23: The Sky Dome Planetarium, which was planned as part of the Carson City Library’s Summer Learning Challenge, is canceled. The inflatable, 16-by-11-foot planetarium, was scheduled for Monday, but has been postponed by the host company. The planetarium will be rescheduled for a later date.
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Experience the night sky with a personalized tour from Mobile Ed Productions. As part of the Carson City Library’s Summer Learning Challenge, the Sky Dome Planetarium will be set up Monday in the gymnasium of the Carson City Community Center.

NEW WASHOE CITY, Nev. — June events at Washoe Lake State Park include stargazing, a wildflower walk, birdwatching, a full moon hike and fish printing.

NEW WASHOE CITY, Nev. — Experience the stellar night sky at Washoe Lake State Park. The Northern Nevada Astronomy Group will have various sizes of telescopes available for viewing stars, planets, and other wonders of the galaxy. A short presentation about astronomy will be given while it gets dark enough for the telescopes. Participants should bring a jacket, red light if possible (red light does not negatively affect night vision), and a lawn chair.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. — Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of June. Events highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources. Among the activities are:

A record-breaking winter, a full lake and a packed calendar beckons visitors to the Sierra as Tahoe South heats up with summer events including its famed fireworks show, a celebrity golf tournament, star-studded headline concerts and more.

Virginia City is known for two things: mining history and quirky, off-the-wall events. In 2019, those two things are joined together with the announcement of the historic Nevada town’s annual special events lineup and online ticket sales.

Deer are more visible in Carson City this time of year, but it's not because Santa Claus is coming to town exactly one week from now.

Hello Carson City, do you see what we see? With fresh snow expected in the Sierra overnight and holiday lights around town lighting up the night sky, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Will it be a white one in Carson City? As of Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, we're eight days away, so anything is possible. Here's what is happening around the capital city:

Visible in Carson City and throughout Northern Nevada, at 7:21 p.m. Sunday night, SpaceX successfully launched the SAOCOM 1A satellite from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The satellite was deployed about 12 minutes after liftoff.

I’m not even going to speculate on the air quality, but please use your best judgement when choosing your activities and there may be some cancellations that I am not aware of. Downtown has a full day of options, but the back roads may be a little more difficult to navigate due to construction projects. The great music that awaits will be worth the hassle. Read on and you’ll find indoors and outdoors activities that will help alleviate the cabin fever.

SATURDAY:

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. — Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of August. Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

This is going to be an epic Fathers’ Day weekend. Carson City Off-Road sponsored by Epic Rides has taken over downtown with everything mountain bike and plays host to a free Music Festival in McFadden Plaza. Don’t miss Arts and Culture Day at the Nevada State Railroad Museum with unlimited rides on the Steam Train, special vendors, and more. Stewart Indian School will be a hotspot of activity with the annual Fathers’ Day PowWow underway. This is just the tip of the iceberg, read on for more fun than you’ll know what to do with.

SATURDAY:

Mother’s Day is Sunday, and there will be plenty of ways for the family to enjoy spending time together all weekend long. Treat Mom to some new flowers for the garden at the annual Greenhouse Project Plant Sale. The Nevada State Museum has a day full of cowboy-related activities planned. Head up to Virginia City on the V and T for a memorable ride through the hills. Before you head out on your adventures, remember to leave a donation of non-perishable food by your mailbox for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Read on for all of your options.

SATURDAY:  

NEW WASHOE CITY — May events at Washoe Lake State Park include a night hike, Celebrate Washoe Valley Day, a sand dune hike and a full moon hike. Reservations are only required for the full moon hike.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. – Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of April. Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

For Omar Garza, the Mount Wilson Observatory in Southern California was his torch for becoming passionate about astronomy and cosmology.

Beautiful Friday night sky.

One might think that the end of summer means that the fun times are over: they would be wrong. This list of happenings in the Carson City area isn’t getting any shorter. The annual Genoa Candy Dance is a favorite among locals and visitors alike, and this weekend welcomes the first ever Silver State Arts Festival at Fuji Park, as well. The first ever Community Garage Sale at the Community Center offers one-stop bargain hunting. Swing into the season at the monthly dance party hosted by the High Sierra Swing Dance Club.

SATURDAY:

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev. – Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of October. Programs highlight the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.

NEW WASHOE CITY, Nev. – September events at Washoe Lake State Park include a sunset hike, an slide show presentation about Washoe Lake and a star party with telescopes.

DAYTON, Nev. – August events at Dayton State Park include an astronomy program and a Carson River slide presentation.

Celebrated as one of the best July 4th fireworks shows in the nation attracting an estimated 100,000 people, “Lights on the Lake” pyrotechnic display at south shore Lake Tahoe is synchronized to music from patriotic favorites to new chart-topping rock and pop hits.

NEW WASHOE CITY, Nev. – June 2017 events at Washoe Lake State Park include a sunset hike, a rattlesnake program, a sunrise Summer Solstice hike and a star party with telescopes.

For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to live up here in the inter-mountain rural West, you are missing our breathtakingly beautiful night sky. For those of you who live in these parts, you may not have taken the time lately to stop and gaze at the Heavens. Either way, plan a special night out with those beautiful stars of ours.