News Release

IWV Campus

3rd Annual Astronomical BBQ & Star Party

September 3, 2008

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 19! This is the date for the Third Annual Astronomical Barbecue & Star Party at Cerro Coso Community College. This family event is co-sponsored by the College and the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation. As well as a public outreach in astronomy, this event supports the continued development of the "Dr. Alex Shlanta Memorial Astronomical Observatory" at Cerro Coso.

The barbecue dinner will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the College Library's front lawn. Tri-tip sandwiches, salads, chips & cookies along with hot dogs for the young kids will be served. Musical entertainment will be provided by "Yesterdaze" a popular local singing group will provide musical entertainment during the evening. There will also be door prize drawings conducted during dinner.

Starting at 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.

The Star Party itself, at the observatory, will begin approximately 7:30 p.m. 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.

Presale tickets are adults: $10.00, children $8.00, and family four-pack $30.00. Tickets are available at Red Rock Books, Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, and the Cerro Coso Business Office. Tickets are available at Red Rock Books, Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, and the Cerro Coso Business Office.

For more information on this family evening of fun call the Cerro Coso Community College Public Information Office at 384-6230.

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