Saturday Night Star Parties at Jack C. Davis Observatory

Explore the night sky at Western Nevada College's observatory this month.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:23am

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Western Nevada College's Jack C. Davis Observatory is hosting free Saturday Night Star Parties on March 14 and March 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Visitors can view planets, stars, and distant galaxies through the observatory's powerful telescopes during the events.

Why it matters

The Jack C. Davis Observatory provides the local community with a unique opportunity to engage with astronomy and explore the wonders of the night sky. These star party events make the observatory's resources accessible to the public and foster interest in science.

The details

The observatory's director, Dr. Thomas Herring, says that conditions should be ideal for viewing Uranus, Jupiter and its moons, the Orion Nebula, and other galaxies like Andromeda, Bode's Galaxy, and the Cigar Galaxy.

  • The Saturday Night Star Parties will take place on March 14 and March 21, 2026.
  • The events will run from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The players

Jack C. Davis Observatory

An observatory located on the campus of Western Nevada College that provides the public with opportunities to view and learn about the night sky.

Dr. Thomas Herring

The director of the Jack C. Davis Observatory who oversees the Saturday Night Star Party events.

Western Nevada College

The college that hosts the Jack C. Davis Observatory and organizes the Saturday Night Star Party events.

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What they’re saying

“Both Uranus and Jupiter are well-positioned for observation. Uranus is a nice little fuzzy, blue dot, but Jupiter looks spectacular and the four Galilean moons are easy to see in a telescope. We'll also be able to see my favorite active star formation region, M42 the Orion Nebula, and some excellent galaxies, including Andromeda, Bode's Galaxy, and the Cigar Galaxy.”

— Dr. Thomas Herring, Director, Jack C. Davis Observatory

What’s next

The Jack C. Davis Observatory will host additional Saturday Night Star Party events throughout the spring and summer months.

The takeaway

The free Saturday Night Star Parties at the Jack C. Davis Observatory provide the local community with a unique opportunity to engage with astronomy and explore the wonders of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes.