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Saturday, June 2
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Monday, June 4
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Tuesday, June 5
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Wednesday, June 6
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Saturday, June 9
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Monday, June 11
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Saturday, June 16
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Tuesday, June 19
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Wednesday, June 20
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Saturday, June 23
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Wednesday, June 27
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Saturday, June 30
Welcome to WNAS Astronomy!
The Western Nevada Astronomical Society (WNAS) is an amateur astronomer group located in Carson City, Nevada. WNAS is the operating group of the Jack C. Davis Observatory, an open to the public observatory which holds weekly star parties.
Come See the Stars
The Jack C. Davis Observatory is open every Saturday night (weather permitting), with lectures on the cosmos, open telescopes, and tours of the facilities. There is no fee to participate in these events. Come and enjoy the cosmos with us!
Venus Apparition at Inferior Conjunction
The transit of Venus will start at 3:09 p.m. on June 5th and last for almost 7 hours, so only a portion of the transit will be observable before the Sun sets in Carson City. Venus, our sister planet, has an odd and interesting orbital property. Transits happen in pairs, and there is over a century between consecutive pairs of transits. There was a transit here on June 8, 2004. Now 8 years later we are having the next transit, completing the pair, on June 5th. The next transit of Venus will occur on Dec. 11, 2117, more than a century in the future.
The doors open at the observatory at 2:00 p.m. for visitors. The public may stay for as much of the transit that can be seen until the Sun sets on the Sierras to the west.
Visitors are warned not to stare at the Sun without eye protection. Visitors will need to observe the transit with a telescope staged with a solar filter, or they may opt to view the process inside the observatory on a screen. To be able to see planet Venus move across the face of the Sun with good visual clarity, it is recommended that a low power telescope be used when viewing. The Moon during the recent eclipse was easily seen because it is so close, but the diameter of Venus is only 1/115 the diameter of the Sun. It would take 115 Venus' placed side by side to stretch across the equator of the Sun.
A few factoids for comparison: You could place 109 Earth's side by side across the equator of the Sun, so the Earth's diameter is 1/109 the diameter of the Sun. Venus' diameter is 0.95 that of the Earth, so 115 Venus' could stretch across the Sun side by side or Venus' diameter is 1/115 the diameter of the Sun.
Earth's diameter is 0.91 % of the Sun's diameter Venus' diameter is 0.88 % of the Sun's diameter.
Annular Eclipse 2012
With cooperative weather and the efforts of our Observatory staff and volunteers, viewing the eclipse from Jack C. Davis Observatory turned out to be a huge success. The turnout was amazing to view this rare wonder. A big thanks to all who came out to help. We would also like to thank the community for supporting us. Please enjoy the video and some of the eclipse pictures taken at the observatory.
The video below was taken from our Solar Telescope with a Hydrogen Alpha filter.
These beautiful pictures were taken by John Dykes, a WNAS member and President of the Board of Governors for the Jack C. Davis Observatory.
Thank You WNAS Members for a Fantastic Anniversary Party!
A huge thanks to all members who brought the wonderful dishes and desserts (and even the KFC).
Congratulations to Scott, one of our newest members, who won a new 8" telescope.
For the finale, we were treated to liquid nitrogen ice cream. Click here to view photos and youtube video of this crazy event.
Congratulations to Our Two Newest Members
The Western Nevada Astronomical Society (WNAS) recognized two young fourth grade students in the Carson City School District for their curiosity and great interest in space science. Camille Swanson and Chloe Roman will be traveling to Huntsville, Alabama this summer to attend a NASA Space Camp. Mike Thomas, President of the WNAS presented a one year honorary membership to them before a Saturday evening lecture in front of their parents and their teachers on 3/31/2012. The Jack C. Davis Observatory director, Prof. Robert Collier also wished them a wonderful and stimulating adventure this summer as well.
Upcoming Star Party Lectures
*** New Observatory Spring Hours ***
Observatory doors open at 6:30 PM
Lectures begin at 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 19:
Slide-show lecture "The Moon" by Mike Thomas
Saturday, May 26:
Slide-show lecture "Isaac Newton" by Mike Thomas
Saturday, June 2:
Open House and Telescope Clinic. There will be no lecture. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.