News Release

IWV Campus

2nd Annual Astronomical Barbecue & Star Party

September 24, 2007

Please mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, October 19, 2007. This is the date for the Second Annual Astronomical Barbecue & Star Party at Cerro Coso College. This family event is sponsored jointly by the College and the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation. As well as public outreach in astronomy, this event supports the development of the "Dr. Alex Shlanta Astronomical Observatory, maintenance and related equipment at Cerro Coso College.
The barbecue dinner will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on the College Library's front lawn. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be barbecued and served by grillers Mayor Chip Holloway, Councilman Dan Clark and City Parks & Recreation director, Jim Ponek. "Yesterdaze" a popular local singing group will provide musical entertainment during the evening.

Starting a 6 p.m. and repeated at half-hour intervals a narrated slide presentation and a brief overview of astronomy will be given by China Lake Astronomical Society's (CLAS's) charter member Carroll Evans inside the College Library.

There will also be door prizes drawings conducted during dinner.

The Star Party itself at the observatory will begin at 7:30 pm. For those desiring transportation, a bus will be running continuously from the Library parking lot to the Astronomical Observatory and back. "Major stars and constellations will be pointed out. There will be approximately 10 different telescope stations set up inside the Observatory compound for public viewing and explanations of what is seen by CLAS members staffing each station" stated faculty member, Dr. Alex Shlanta.

Presale tickets are adults: $10.00, children $8.00, and a family four-pack for only $35.00. Tickets are available at Red Rock Books, Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, and the Cerro Coso College Business Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230