Western Nevada College News & Notes: View total Lunar Eclipse at observatory

As darkness falls on the weekend, there hopefully will be much to see in western Nevada.

Wrap up your weekend by heading over to Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College for a total lunar eclipse viewing event on Sunday, Jan. 20.

If the weather cooperates, Northern Nevadans will be treated to a total lunar eclipse (rain is in the extended forecast). A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and Moon and casts a shadow across the Moon. It will last for about an hour and the Moon will turn an orangish-red during this time.

“The entire eclipse event should be visible from Northern Nevada,” said Jack C. Davis Observatory Director Thomas Herring. “Our staff will have several telescopes available for viewing and fun facts about the Moon and eclipses.”

Herring added, “If it is cloudy, we will have a video stream from NASA, or another source, playing on the screens inside the Jack C. Davis Observatory. We’ll be there unless the roads are closed due to weather.”

Doors to the observatory will open at 5:30 p.m. and the penumbral eclipse will start at 6:36. The partial eclipse will begin at 7:33 p.m. and reach totality at 8:41. Maximum eclipse occurs at 9:12 p.m. and the total eclipse ends at 9:43. The outgoing partial eclipse will last until 10:50 p.m. and the penumbra shadow will pass off of the Moon at 11:48.

The observatory is located at 2699 Van Patten Drive, overlooking WNC and Carson City.

College Closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

WNC will close on Monday, Jan. 21 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The college will resume regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 22 — the start of spring semester.

Steampunk with High Desert Steam to Open Spring Semester Galleries

Spring semester is nearly here and so are a number of exhibits planned for the art galleries on the Carson City campus.

WNC Art Galleries will kick off the new semester with the Steampunk with High Desert Steam exhibit on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The art of Victorian futurism will be shown through Feb. 26. A reception for the artists is scheduled on Jan. 31 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Other exhibits that are planned for the semester are works by Hal Starratt and Sarah Shearer on March 4 through April 8, a Student Art Show on April 15 through May 15 and an exhibit by Michelle Legras Peltier from May 20 to June 20.

The Main Gallery is located in the Bristlecone Building at 2201 W. College Parkway in Carson City. The gallery is open during school hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information on art shows at WNC, go to facebook.com/wnc.art.galleries or email artgallery@wnc.edu.

Businesses Invited to WNC March 29 Job Fair

Area employers can reserve a space in Western Nevada College’s annual Job Fair on Friday, March 29.

Western Nevada College and Carson City Health and Human Services invites employers, students and job seekers to a Job Fair scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

The Job Fair is an ideal time to speak to and recruit college students, graduates and community members for job openings. There’s no cost to participate.

In the past, manufacturing/production, government (local and state agencies), transportation, home health care/assisted living, gaming/hospitality, education, sales, publishing, insurance and food service have participated.

Employers interested in reserving a space can contact Skylar DePedro at 775-445-4402 or skylar.depedro@wnc.edu.