Western Nevada College shared the 20^th anniversary celebration of Jack C. Davis Observatory with a Community Night on Saturday, May 20.

The community was invited at no charge to learn about the history of JCDO and view the night sky through the observatory’s extensive collection of telescopes. Participants can also joined via Zoom. Earlier in the week, students, faculty and staff celebrated the official anniversary of the observatory with sunspot viewing and refreshments at the facililty.

Since opening on May 15, 2003, JCDO has provided WNC students with astronomy and astrophysics courses and a five-star research facility. In addition to classes inside the observatory, the facility is used for special events, school visits, presentations, and the popular weekly Star Parties hosted by the Western Nevada Astronomical Society. The Saturday night Star Parties are open to the community, providing people with the opportunity to learn more about the universe above them and develop an interest that could serve them for the rest of their lives.

“The observatory provides a pretty unique environment for astronomy and astrophysics education. The opportunity to actually point a telescope at something is often lacking in astronomy classrooms,” said JCDO Director and Professor of Physics Dr. Thomas Herring. “Just being surrounded by the workings of an observatory really aids in teaching and learning about the universe. Some of the equipment is starting to show its age after 20 years but dealing with outdated equipment and infrastructure is actually quite common in astronomy research. It's all a part of providing a genuine experience in the practice of astronomy in addition to learning theory.”

Student Cody Johnson said the observatory has served as a great resource for his education at WNC.

"The observatory itself is an amazing asset to the college, and the students that take classes there are more likely to become interested in STEM fields as a career,” said Johnson, who

Dr. Thomas Herring (left)

has taken Astronomy 110 and Astrobiology 120 at JCDO. "Dr. Tom is an amazing teacher and has been like a mentor to me, helping me make strides in my academic career. I do not think I would have made nearly as much progress as I have made without his help.” 

JCDO plays a significant role in the community. It is a popular destination for locals and tourists, offering stargazing and astronomy programs that promote a deeper appreciation and understanding of the universe. Last year, AAA recognized JCDO among its nine best Western destinations for stargazing and astronomy.

When Robert Collier envisioned the creation of an observatory at Western Nevada College just after the millennium, the likelihood of it being funded and constructed was just that — a dream!

After all, how many community colleges are fortunate enough to have an observatory? In fact, how many universities have one? But someone forgot to tell that to Collier, an astronomy and physics professor at WNC at the time; the college’s Foundation; and Northern Nevada businesses and foundations that donated their time and money to support the daunting $1.4 million project.

Of course, just as unlikely as Jack C. Davis Observatory being built was the appearance of Apollo XI astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon, aiding fundraising efforts and attention to the project.

Nevada Gaming Foundation for Educational Excellence’s $100,000 grant provided a gratuitous liftoff to the project. From there, a steady stream of money continued to come in, including significant donations from SBC Foundation and businessman Andy Butti. There was no stopping the project when U.S. Senator John Ensign delivered a $300,000 congressional award to the project. The Builders Association of Western Nevada played a major role as well in the construction of the facility.

All of these stars aligned to make JCDO a reality. It opened on May 15, 2003, to provide WNC students with astronomy courses and a five-star research facility. Aldrin also appeared at the “First Light” opening ceremony, leading a lecture that was attended by hundreds. The observatory was named after the college’s founding president, Jack C. Davis, who led the college through its first 12 years.

JCDO is located at 2269 Vanpatten Ave. To learn more about the observatory and its events, go to https://wnc.edu/observatory.

Former Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin (left), the second man to walk on the Moon, and former Jack C. Davis Observatory Director Robert Collier have their photo taken after WNC's observatory opened in 2003.