Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Phyllis Noah, Communications Coordinator
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu or pnoah@shawnee.edu
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

            Shawnee State University’s Clark Planetarium will be hosting a Star Party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 on the east side of the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) and inside the ATC.
            The party is open for everyone and the planetarium is asking anyone who has a telescope to bring it to the Star Party. Anyone who does not have a telescope, the planetarium will supply one to use during the party.
            Participants will have the chance to build a telescope better than the one Galileo used for his first observations of the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. For a $50 donation, participants can decorate their telescope any way they like, take it home, and help the Clark Planetarium purchase more telescopes to use in classrooms.
            “Our first Star Party two years ago brought 60 people and that number doubled last spring at the party,” Arthur Bogard, senior operator said. “We’re shooting to double our numbers yet again for the largest Star Party in the Ohio River Valley in a long time!”
            Other activities include pop bottle rockets, coloring activities, paper airplane contests and planetarium shows.
            Individuals or organizations interested may donate equipment, time or money. Sunday, Sept. 26 will be used as a back-up date if weather conditions are not favorable.
            If you are interested in participating or have any questions, contact the planetarium at planetarium@shawnee.edu.