Dr. Christina Cavalli's astronomy students use the observation deck to make star charts in April.

See the sky in a whole new light at ACC’s Star Party, Friday, April 29 at Round Rock Campus(5:30-9:30 p.m., 4400 College Park Dr.). The event is your first opportunity to check out the campus’s new observation deck.

Kicking off the evening in Building 2000 (Room 2131), Austin Planetarium staff will demonstrate the “Discovery Dome,” a digital mobile planetarium. At 7 p.m., Dr. Jim Heath, professor of astronomy and chair of the Physical Sciences Department, will talk about factors that influence the possibility of extraterrestrial life and answer questions.

“I’m going to cover ways that we could recognize other forms of life and whether it’s a good idea to advertise our existence to the galaxy,” says Dr. Heath. “This is a subject that sparks a lot of debate, so I’m looking forward to a lively discussion.”

Cross your fingers for a clear night, because telescopes will be set up on the observation deck on the fourth floor of Building 3000. Beginning at 8 p.m., guests will have a chance to view Saturn, star clusters, and other wonders of the spring sky.

The Star Party is one of the college’s activities to promote environmental awareness during the month of April.