WHAT: Star Party

WHEN: Tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1601 E. University Blvd., on UA campus

WHY: The White House is holding a star party astronomy event, and Flaundrau decided to throw a party in conjunction with the White House to support their message.

ACTIVITIES: Public viewing of Jupiter, the moon and celestial objects with Flandrau's 16-inch observatory telescope along with portable telescopes on the UA Mall

COST: Telescope viewing is free. Donations are encouraged for entry to the Mineral Museum to support astronomy education in the community.

INFO: 621-3646, www.uasciencecenter.org/astronomy

DETAILS from the press release:

Flandrau: The UA Science Center will host a star party on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the UA Mall to join the White House in an international celebration of World Space Week. The public is invited for a special free telescope viewing of Jupiter and various celestial objects from Flandrau’s 16-inch observatory telescope and portable telescopes on the UA Mall. Assisting Flandrau will be astronomers from the University of Arizona chapter of SEDS (Society for the Exploration & Development of Space) and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA). In addition, the Flandrau facility will be open to view its meteorite collections, as well as specimens in the UA Mineral Museum.

“We’re very excited that President Obama is demonstrating his support for science education, and astronomy in particular, by hosting the first ever star party at the White House,” said Alexis R. Faust, Executive Director for Flandrau: The UA Science Center. “Star parties are a unique way to connect the importance of space and planetary science research at the UA to families and children in our community.”

World Space Week began Sunday with celebrations in over 50 nations and an announcement that President Obama will host the first ever "Star Party" on the White House lawn this Wednesday evening. The White House event for middle-school students will include 20 telescopes and various hands-on activities that will "highlight the President's commitment to science, engineering and math education as the foundation of this nation's global technological and economic leadership," according to a White House statement. The UN-declared World Space Week, October 4-10, is the largest annual space event on Earth, according to the World Space Week Association.