Telescope on display at the college

A sneak preview of celestial viewing will be offered at 3:30 p.m. today in a physics laboratory at Western Nevada Community College.

Although the Jack C. Davis Observatory is still under construction, the college is inviting the public to check out one of its new telescopes and computerized tracking systems.

"The public has been generous in its support of our new observatory and we want to let them know about our progress," said Helaine Jesse, vice president of institutional advancement.

The observatory, which is being built on the northwest corner of the campus, is set to be completed this fall.

It will be a 2,500-square-foot building with sliding track doors above three telescopes.

The telescopes will include a 16-inch reflecting telescope, a 12-inch reflecting telescope and a 4-inch refracting telescope.

The observatory will be open at specific times to the general public and, through the Internet, will be available to schoolchildren throughout the state.

What: telescope viewing

When: 3:30 p.m. today

Where: Room 227 of the Cedar Building at Western Nevada Community College, 2201 W. College Parkway