He was there. On the moon, that is.

That simple fact has three grown men giddy with delight over the idea that astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who, along with Neil Armstrong, walked on the moon on July 20, 1969, will be in Helena next weekend as part of the annual free Symphony Under the Stars.

With the theme “Out of this World,” the evening concert at Carroll College on Saturday, July 19, will include music from the films “Superman,” “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Star Wars,” as well as a performance of Holtz’s “The Planets,” which will be narrated by Aldrin.

Aldrin will also give a book signing at ExplorationWorks Museum during a day of free, space themed activities leading up to the main event.

“People do remember where they were on that date,” says Carroll College president Tom Trebon, who personally was in Tanzania, where he listened to the radio coverage of the Apollo 11 landing from the American Embassy.

And those who are too young to remember — or who weren’t even born yet — are surely familiar with the popular character Buzz Lightyear from the film “Toy Story,” who was named after Aldrin.

So while it may have taken as much effort to get Aldrin to Helena as it did to put him on the moon 40 years ago, Helena Symphony artistic director Allan R. Scott and Trebon seem to concur: it’s totally worth it.

The idea to bring in the astronaut was sparked by a concert Scott saw Aldrin narrate with the Philadephia Orchestra years ago.

The symphony contacted Aldrin’s people and discovered that the sought-after cosmic celebrity commands $50,000 per appearance. Helena organizers were able to negotiate that figure — but not by much.

With the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission on the horizon, Scott knew there was no way he’d get Aldrin to Montana next year.

On the other hand, he also knew that the symphony already had to raise over $100,000 just to break even on Symphony Under the Stars, and this would set that number even higher.

But for Trebon and Scott, any old astronaut wouldn’t do.

“We thought, if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right,” he says.

The duo set a goal for themselves to see if they could raise the funds; Scott says they wrapped up everything they needed about two weeks ago.

Perhaps no one is more excited about Aldrin’s visit than Carroll professor Dr. Kelly Cline, who was asked by Scott to pen the narration to accompany “The Planets.”

Cline, who offers a popular astronomy lecture series at Carroll during the school year, says he is thrilled “to (his) toes” about Aldrin’s visit; but he really doesn’t need to — his enthusiasm is more than apparent.

Cline says it was important for him to get the science in there, but that the script is meant to be entertaining, first and foremost.

“It’s very dra-matic,” says Cline of the Holzt work. “There are just some of these movements that take your breath away.”

And of course, the fact that Aldrin will read his text is the icing on the cake.

“He walked on the moon. He was there,” Cline says, incredulous. “That was him. What an astonishing experience.”

“Out of This World” is an apt title for this year’s Symphony Under the Stars, which has been expanded to include a jam-packed day of family friendly events.

This year, the college and the symphony have teamed up with ExplorationWorks Museum to offer planetarium shows, a planet walk and solar observation, all free to the public.

Despite the effort it takes, Scott and Trebon say they are dedicated to continuing to produce Symphony Under the Stars because it has become such a beloved community event.

For Scott, the concert also provides the opportunity for the symphony to perform for its largest audience of the year, which he says is approaching 15,000.

“If either one of us wanted to do away with it, we’d get strung up,” Scott said.

Symphony Under the Stars

Saturday, July 19

Admission to all events is free

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Space exhibit and planetarium shows, ExplorationWorks Museum.

1-3 p.m.: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin signs his autobiography for children “Reaching for the Moon” at ExplorationWorks.

5-7 p.m.: Musical instrument “petting zoo” for kids, offered by the Helena Music Teachers’ Association on the Carroll College lawn.

6-8 p.m.: Planet walk begins at ExplorationWorks Museum and will end on the Carroll College lawn.

8:30-10 p.m.: Observation of the moon, sun, stars and planets with telescopes on the Carroll College lawn

8:30 p.m.: Symphony Under the Stars concert at Carroll

10 p.m.: Fireworks

About the concert: A limited amount of reserved seating is available at the concert for $10 per seat. Prior to the show, the Carroll College lawn will be open to audience members who would like to reserve a spot with blankets; no stakes please. Dogs are not permitted at Symphony Under the Stars.

For more information call the symphony at 442-1860.