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Show Features editor: Heather Wallentine Phone: 626-7507 ' ''-"--"''""x '-Oi v ;.;::! v- SsS5" : --'" . .. '73;.:'. ;Cv- .-..ly.:.: yslS one that is welcome after the smoldering sun and 1 00 degree ' weather earlier that day. You wander outside and watch the setting sun sink tower until it disappears. Before long you're surrounded by a sea of blackness, highlighted only by a giant globe and thousands of glowing specks. You find yourself staring up at them, fascinated by the enveloping universe and the objects in it ' You're not alone in your wonder. No matter the age or interests of an individual, many find an awe and desire to know and learn more about the stars and constellations, planets and moon that occupy our night sky. m Despite your lack of understanding or insight on astronomy or your vast extensive wisdom on the subject, this study of the stars, planets and other celestial bodies provides a reason to have a party in the summer. There's a party Saturday night where you can mingle, expand your horizons or share your experience on this topic. This "Star Party" is sponsored by the Utah Astrological Society and the Hansen Planetarium, and takes place out on Antelope Island. As summer nears its final months, there are only two more parties left to attend on Saturday and Sept. 14. They begin at dusk, but you can come anytime until 10 p.m., when the entrance gates close to the island. Now you might be curious about this party, asking yourself what goes on at this event. It doesn't involve loud music or a bunch of fashionably dressed people dancing out under the stars. It is a party of a higher level. Here, many for the first time, you get the opportunity to come face to face with the ones who really know about what's up there. Members of the Ogden Astrological Society bring many telescopes of all sizes and set them up on a hill on the island. The astronomers select items in the night sky to focus on, and you are able to view, within eyesight's distance, galaxies and planets. Others hand out star charts and willingly point out constellations, planets, the Milky Way or whatever you're willing to ask. Attending one of these events brings back your desire to remember all the information you learned in your last astronomy class. Suddenly things come back to you that once seemed long forgotten. At the last Star Party, held July 20, 1 was amazed at what I remembered and what I needed a refresher course on. Having taken astronomy almost three years ago, I had forgotten every constellation I had ever been able to point out. Luckily the avid astronomers helped me out, and the knowledgeable people around me offered plenty of assistance. Now I can confidently say, as long as I am on Antelope Island, where the constellations Dolphinius, Sagittarius, Scorpio and others are located. However, I got the chance to recall such things as the ring nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy and Jupiter with its four moons and red dot as I viewed them in detail in the surrounding telescopes. I didn't realize the recognition still existed in my over-cluttered mind. I have to admit, this party gave me back that encompassing awe and interest in what lay overhead as I gained more information on what was up there. It was an experience that can only be realized once you've found out for yourself. On Saturday be prepared to pay only the $6 entrance fee to the park, which is for each vehicle, and the party is free. Pack the car up with all your friends, and you're ready for an inexpensive, enlightening experience at the Star Party on Antelope Island, located in Davis County, straight out on Antelope Drive. For more information, contact Jim Fillpot at 773-2941 . By Heather Wallentine Signpost features editor -4 'a 3 : WfK. v.::.,.;-.: I T $l:.;lrt,.HSi mmmm i ' ' A . .to S s f umd.r "tlio xiLig'tL't sky at Vniol o jz o Island |