The Austin Planetarium will host a free event for Leander ISD students and parents Sept. 10 that includes a video presentation of the galaxy, science exhibits and information about parenting initiatives on campus.

The event serves as a kickoff event for Watch D.O.G.S.—Dads of Great Students, a program that organizes fathers and father figures as positive male role models for students. More than 3,066 schools in 46 states participate in the Watch D.O.G.S. program, including LISD.

Free pizza and drinks will be served during a space presentation displayed on the arena's high-definition Jumbotron screen. The session will be led by Torvald Hessel, executive director of the Austin Planetarium, which has a mission to create Austin's first planetarium, science museum and technology center in order to foster academic excellence in the fields of science, engineering, technology and math.

"We are so excited to be hosting this great event," Hessel said in a statement. "We are actually quite lucky with the schedule. The center will be adding ice the next day for the upcoming season, but we as well as LISD Watch D.O.G.S are grateful the Texas Stars are allowing us to add more stars to their home with our presentation."

Exhibitors at the event include the Austin Planetarium's Discovery Dome, the Austin Astronomical Society, GirlStart, UT's Center for Space Research, the Texas Space Grant Consortium and UT's Physics Circus. A fully functional planetary rover as well as a scale model of the planets will also be available for parents and students to view.

Watch D.O.G.S. Executive Director Eric Snow will also provide information about the program. Superintendent Bret Champion will present a life-sized alien to the elementary school, middle school, and high school with the highest attendance at the event.