[SJAA-announce] Fw: Publicity for Talk on Asteroid Impacts Oct 3 at Foothill College

[Bob & Brenda Havner]

Nontechnical Public Lecture on
Asteroids that Hit the Earth
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On Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 2007, at 7 pm,
Astronomer David Morrison of NASA's Ames
Research Center will give a non-technical,
illustrated talk on:
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Taking a Hit: Asteroid Impacts and Evolution
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as part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures
in the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College,
El Monte Road and Freeway 280,
in Los Altos Hills, California.

Free and open to the public.
Parking on campus costs $2.

Call the series hot-line at 650-949-7888 for
more information and driving directions.

No background in science will be required for
this talk.
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Asteroids have hit the Earth many time in the past, and
they will continue to hit in the future, whether we are
prepared or not. Collisions with our planet over 4.5 billion
years have profoundly influenced the evolution of life.
in fact, were it not for the  impact of a 15-km wide asteroid
65 million years ago, it is likely humanity would not be here.

Impacts are important for our future as well as our past.
In the last two decades we have learned not only how to
evaluate the impact hazard but also (in principle) how to
defend ourselves. The astronomers operating the
Spaceguard Survey of Near Earth Asteroids have already
reduced the risk of fatality from unknown asteroids by
at least 75%.  Unlike other natural hazards, we now have
the capability of removing most of the impact risk within
the next generation. However, the government still does
not have a plan of action for when an asteroid is discovered
heading our way or when an impact happens without
any warning.

David Morrison is one of the world's experts on the study
of asteroid impacts.  He is the Senior Scientist at the
NASA Astrobiology Institute, where he participates in a
variety of research programs in the study of the living
universe. Dr. Morrison is the author of more than 155
technical papers and has published a dozen books
(including several widely used college textbooks in
astronomy.) He is the recipient of numerous awards
for his scientific and his educational work, including the
Sagan Medal of the American Astronomical Society
for public communication.  Dr. Morrison was a founder
of the multi-disciplinary field of astrobiology.  Asteroid
2410 Morrison is named in his honor, but he assures
us that it is not one of those that might hit the Earth.

The lecture is co-sponsored by:
* NASA Ames Research Center
* The Foothill College Astronomy Program
* The SETI Institute
* The Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

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Past Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures are now available
in MP3 format at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/podcast/index.html





Sheila Johnson
Community Relations Coordinator
Government and External Relations
Strategic Communications & Development Directorate
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field. CA 94035
Office : 650-604-5054