Thomas to lecture on International Space Station on Saturday at WNC's Observatory

Courtesy Steve Yingling, Western Nevada College 

On a clear night, it’s often visible from Earth. For nearly 20 years, this inhabited satellite has served as a research laboratory for crew members’ experiments in physics, astronomy, biology, meteorology and human biology.

Yes, the International Space Station in low Earth orbit has been a marvel of science. Originally created, in part, to serve as a staging base for future missions to the Moon and Mars, the ISS now has many uses.

This Saturday, individuals can learn more about the ISS during a Mike Thomas lecture on Saturday, July 8 at Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory.

The free lecture starts at 7:30 p.m.

Thomas is a science and history lecture guru in Northern Nevada. He has provided lectures at the observatory for more than a decade.

On Saturday nights when lectures aren’t scheduled, the observatory is open to the public from dusk to 11 p.m. Better known as Star Parties, these gatherings enable the Western Nevada Astronomical Society to convene people with an interest in astronomy.

The lectures and Star Parties are free and open to the public.

The observatory is located at 2699 Van Patten Drive in Carson City.