Jack C. Davis Observatory (JCDO) at Western Nevada College is preparing for a lunar eclipse viewing event on March 13-14, staying open from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. The event is free for the public.
“The real action starts just after 10 p.m. as the partial eclipse starts. That's when you'll start to notice a shadow covering more and more of the Moon,” stated JCDO Director Dr. Thomas Herring.
The lunar event will occur when the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, causing it to change color from silver to red, known as a Blood Moon. “With the totality lasting about an hour we should have plenty of time to view not only the Moon but also things nearby, which is normally not possible during a full Moon due to the glare from the bright Moon,” Dr. Herring added.
The full lunar eclipse will begin at 11:26 p.m., with maximum totality at 11:58 p.m., ending at 12:31 a.m. It marks the first total lunar eclipse in nearly three years.
"We are very fortunate to have a dedicated team at Jack C. Davis Observatory that will provide the community with start-to-finish viewing of this lunar event," said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe.
Attendees can rate the eclipse using data sheets provided by NASA JPL, based on the Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness. “We'll gather and compile results to produce a community rating for our local viewing of the eclipse,” he noted.
In case of unfavorable weather conditions, JCDO will offer a livestream from another location in North America.
JCDO is located at 2269 Vanpatten Ave., Carson City campus's northern end.