Retired NASA scientist to lecture Sept. 24 at Western Nevada College in Carson City

Who better to learn from about meteors and asteroids than a retired National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist?

Marla Moore, who teaches a couple of classes at Western Nevada College, is leading a free discussion, “Meteors: Rocks from the Sky,” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City.

Moore, who teaches Planetary Astronomy and Introduction to Astrobiology at WNC, plans to cover recent and past impact events on Earth, as well as what meteors are made of and where they originate.

“Asteroids will also be covered in the talk, along with the difference between a meteor, meteorite and asteroid,” said Moore, whose emeritus status with NASA allows her to continue serving the independent space agency.

Moore’s discussion also includes NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission in exploring the asteroid Benu. A hands-on crater-making demonstration concludes the lecture. Doors open at 6 p.m.

When lectures aren’t scheduled, the observatory is open to the public on Saturdays from sundown to 11 p.m. The Western Nevada Astronomical Society hosts Star Parties at this time to provide people with an interest in astronomy an opportunity to meet. The Observatory is located at 2699 Van Patten Drive in Carson City.