The Helena Symphony, Carroll College and ExplorationWorks announced Monday they will collaboration to host the fifth annual Symphony Under the Stars.

This year's symphony will feature astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and the concert's "out of this world" music will will cap a day of multi-venue programs celebrating Montana's Big Sky and space science.

The concert will take place at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, on the lawn at Carroll College.

Also that day, beginning at 10 a.m., space exhibits and a planetarium showing will take place at ExplorationWorks interactive museum of science and culture.

The Helena Astronomical Society and Carroll College's Neuman Astronomical Society are scheduled to offer hands-on telescope solar observation on the museum's deck throughout the day.

From 1 to 3:30 p.m., Aldrin will sign copies of his autobiography for children, "Reaching for the Moon," in the ExplorationWorks gallery.

Later in the afternoon, from 5 to 7 p.m., the Helena Music Teachers Association will present their popular musical instrument "petting zoo" adjacent to the concert stage at Carroll College.

Prior to the concert, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Helena and Neuman astronomical societies will present a "planet walk" showcasing distances of celestial objects in our solar system. The walk will extend from the Carroll campus to ExplorationWorks and the Great Northern Town Center. Following the walk, the Neuman and Helena Astronomical Societies will offer hands-on solar and lunar telescope viewings at the concert site, weather permitting.

The concert begins at 8:30 p.m. with Richard Strauss' opening from "Also Sprach Zarathustra," popularly recognized as the main theme from the film "2001: A Space Odyssey." The first half of the concert will conclude with Gustav Holst's "The Planets" with Aldrin narrating the writings of Kelly Cline, associate professor of mathematics and astronomy at Carroll College.

Aldrin's appearance in Helena, sponsored by Exergy, coincides with the 39th anniversary of America's first landing of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module on the moon's Sea of Tranquility.

The evening will conclude with John Williams' "Star Wars" performed with a fireworks show.

Helena artist and renowned children's book illustrator Constance R. Bergum has created the artwork for the event's limited-edition art poster. The posters will be on sale at the concert and afterwards at the symphony office.

Admission is free and limited reserved seating is available for $10 each through the Helena Symphony box office, 442-1860. The symphony office, 48 Hibbard Way in downtown Helena, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic meals.