Welcome to WNAS astronomy!

The Western Nevada Astronomical Society (WNAS) is an amateur astronomer group centered out of Carson City, Nevada and is the operating group of the Jack C. Davis Observatory.

Special Event! SETI astronomer to give talk

Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence institute (SETI) will present a lecture on the Campus of Western Nevada College on June 6th at 8:00 PM. The lecture, entitled "When Will We Find ET?" will take place in Marlette hall and will be followed by a star party at the Jack C. Davis Observatory to which anyone is invited. The event is cosponsored by the Nevada Space Grant Consortium and the Western Nevada Astromical Society.

Members of the Western Nevada Astronomical Society (WNAS) as well as present and past Nevada Space Grant Scholars are invited to meet and greet Dr Shostak at the Davis Observatory at 6:30 PM. Check our "Events" page for more information.

IYA Raffle - Tickets on Sale Now!

The Jack C. Davis Observatory is celebrating the "International Year of Astronomy" with a raffle to be held on December 26, 2009. One of the prizes is the Buzz Aldrin Commemorative Coin, in honor of the opening of the observatory in 2003. The coin holder is signed by Buzz Aldrin, second man to walk on the moon; and Jack Davis, the observatory's namesake. The raffle's grand prize is an Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope. Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100. All proceeds go to the WNC Foundation for the Jack C. Davis Observatory. To purchase your tickets please contact Robert Collier or Mike Thomas.

Night sky events and Objects

Winter 2009 has some of the most recognizable constellations overhead. Some of these well known constellations are Leo, Taurus, Orion, Gemini, and many others.

Saturn visible

Saturn will be visible during the early night above the eastern horizon. Saturn is currently in the constellation Leo, and its brilliant rings and moons are visible with a low power telescope or binoculars.