Four students from New Philadelphia High School and their teacher will be attending the meeting of the American Astronomical Society to detail their part in a project to identify previously unknown stars.

Journeying to Long Beach, Calif., for the session which runs Sunday through Jan. 11 are Casey Miller, a sophomore; Heath Scherick, a junior; Brandon Free, a senior; and Taylor Willis, a senior.

Accompanying them is Debbie French, a physics and engineering teacher at the high school.

More than 600 professional astronomers also will be in attendance.

French said that her students will be busy the entire time because of the large number of programs being offered, including at least one by a Nobel laureate.

Its going to be absolutely crazy, she said.

Among the better-known individuals scheduled to attend is Bobak Ferdowsi, flight director on the Mars Sciences

Laboratory Curiosity mission this past summer who became an Internet sensation because of his distinctive Mohawk haircut.

Hes kind of a big deal right now, Miller said.

The meeting will allow the students to learn about jobs in astronomy, as well as look for potential summer internships. Its very practical for them to go, French said.

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Phila students head to Calif. astronomy conference