astronomy

Don’t miss the upcoming spring semester at Western Nevada College. The college has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a class “just for fun” or looking to spark an interest to pursue something new.

Patt Quinn-Davis, Carson High School Language Arts teacher and adviser of the school newspaper and Carneta yearbook, is retiring. For Quinn-Davis, the publications staff became a part of her family every year and even more so when students stayed with the program throughout their high school careers.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce six high school seniors (four from Carson High School and two from Pioneer High School) who have shown exceptional academic prowess. The valedictorian and salutatorian honors represent the students who have earned the highest and second highest ranks, respectively, among their graduating class.

Spend Friday and Saturday, March 13-14 with Mike Thomas as he provides a good UFO story and history lesson in a war that took place in Nevada in 1860.

‘Colonizing Space,’ ‘Extreme Places’ Presentations at JCDO Accompany Mike Thomas to one-of-a-kind spots and outer space for the Northern Nevada lecturer’s opening presentations of 2020 at Jack C. Davis Observatory.

Thomas will talk about “Extreme Places” on Friday, Feb. 7 and “Colonizing Space” on Saturday, Feb. 8. other lectures are free to the public and begin at 6:30 p.m.; doors to the observatory open at 6 p.m.

Happy Saturday, Carson City! We've got a ton of great events throughout the weekend, so check below to see what's happening around town!

Heading into the weekend, post-Christmas holiday activities continue around the Carson City region over the next three days. Events include a Christmas Through the Years presentation at the Carson Valley Community Theater, Open Mic Night at A to Zen Gift Shop, musicians Lauren Kepler and Dan Cypher at Bella Vita Bistro, laughs at the Carson Comedy Club and much more!

Hello Carson City and happy day after Christmas. It has been a truly wonderful holiday season experience and it's not over yet. We celebrate our community for its many, many charitable functions and its generosity in the spirit of Christmas and giving. Thank you Carson City for making this holiday season a truly memorable one. Here's a look what's ahead Thursday.

Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College is ending 2019 with something new. Observatory Director Thomas Herring will moderate the first “Astronomy Roundtable” on Saturday, Dec 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City will be hosting a rare early morning daytime viewing event on Monday, Nov. 11 when Mercury will transit in front of the Sun.

Mike Thomas’ Lecture Series visits Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8-9 for presentations on a couple of remarkable people from France.

Mike Thomas will step outside North America for his October presentations at Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City.

Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City will provide community members the opportunity to join many astronomy lovers around the world in celebrating the Moon this Saturday, Oct. 5.

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.

NEW WASHOE CITY — September events at Washoe Lake State Park include an evening hike through the sand dunes, a birdwatching program, a morning walk through the Day Use Area, and a night hike.

A night of fact or fiction is coming to Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City. Mike Thomas will provide his take on the legitimacy of the “Legend of King Arthur” on Friday, Aug. 2 at the observatory.

Speaking of “Superhumans,” a night later on Saturday, Aug. 3, Thomas will kick off the observatory’s star party with a slide show presentation of a variety of real people who have abilities who can only be described as “super.”

Mike Thomas will present two lectures for the month of July. Friday's lecture will be about Egypt: The slide-show lecture covers Mike's grand tour of this ancient land. Saturday night will be about Space Images: Amazing photographs of celestial objects.

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

The Carson High School class of 2019 said their goodbyes to teachers June 5, most of the teachers finished their grades the same day and checked out June 7, and a few remaining teachers volunteered to help with graduation Saturday.

Mike Thomas’ topics for his June presentations about survival and aerospace at Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory should generate interest among community members.

Anticipation of graduation and trepidation about the future are the thoughts running through the veins of the Carson High School Class of 2019 as they contemplate walking onto the football field as high school seniors and bouncing off the football field as CHS graduates looking forward to the new places and faces of tomorrow.

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.

CARSON CITY — Nicolas Jacques, music teacher at Carson Middle School, was honored last night as the Carson City School District’s Educator of the Year. Additionally, James “Jim” Pike, special needs school bus driver for transportation, was recognized as the Education Support Professional (ESP) Employee of the Year for the district.

The CHS teacher of the year is Astronomy, Honors Physics, and head CHS Freshman Football Coach James Bean Jr. Born in Okinawa, Japan where his dad, a Marine, met his mother, Bean moved back to the US when he was 4-years-old.

Daylight Savings Time is about to begin, harkening the approach of Spring. Winter, though, continues its stubborn hold on the region, so bundle up this weekend in spite the extra hour of daylight. There's a chance of snow showers throughout the weekend with daytime highs only into the low 40s.

And remember to set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night!

Heading into the home stretch that is Friday, March 8, 2019 we welcome you to the end of the work week. More spring-like weather is ahead, which isn't exactly all sunshine and flowers. Forecasters say they'll be some sun but also a chance for rain and even some snow showers. Stay tuned. Otherwise, read on for what's happening around the Carson City area today.

Northern Nevada Lecturer Mike Thomas has rescheduled his “Future War” presentation for Saturday, March 9 at Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City. Friday will feature a discussion on "Myths and Legends."

For Carson High School Senior Adelina Pacheco, studying the stars is a family tradition.

Her three older siblings completed senior projects on various interstellar subjects, and now it’s her turn.

"Winterflix," a play on the popular Netflix streaming service, was the theme this year at the 2019 Winterfest week at CHS with dress-up days and night-time activities all week long. Some of the events included the Netflix show, "Stranger Things," a Twins Day, "Riverdale," "The Office," and even the ever popular once-a-month Dress for Success competition.