Daily Staff Writer

Reaching for the stars

The Ames Area Amateur Astronomers invite people to join them Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Story County Conservation Center at McFarland Park for their monthly club meeting.

This month’s meeting will feature a program on the inflationary model of the Big Bang theory by Dennis Ross, professor of physics and astronomy.

If weather permits, the club will host a viewing session for the public at the park with club members’ scopes. People who own telescopes or binoculars are encouraged to bring them along.

Club members will help people use them to find the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn and some of the deep sky objects visible in the autumn skies.

McFarland Park is located northeast of Ames. Take Highway 30 west to Interstate 35. Go about north on 35 and take the 13th Street exit. Turn right and the center will be on the left about 1/4 mile down the street.

For more information, call 232-2528.

English-speaking volunteers needed

English-speaking volunteers are needed for the Conversational English Program.

The program pairs international students and visitors with English-speaking volunteers to provide a forum for intercultural exchanges. CEP enables the English-speaking volunteers to learn about a different culture and helps international students improve their English communication skills.

Volunteers and partners meet for one hour each week at a mutually convenient time and place.

No prior experience is required to participate in the program.

For more information, contact Dongwang Liu, 4 Hamilton Hall, 294-2782.