[SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] Two upcoming Astronomy events 9/27 and 10/3

[Bob & Brenda Havner]

Here is information on two upcoming astronomy events:

* Pluto Talk and Disney Astronomy Book Signing Sept. 27
* Talk: Taking a Hit: Asteroid Impacts and Evolution  Oct. 3rd

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
EVENT 1:

Pluto Talk and Disney Astronomy Book Signing Sept. 27

Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi will celebrate the
publication of his new book, "Wonderful World of
Space"  from Disney Learning at BookShop West
Portal Thursday evening, Sept. 27th, at 7 pm.

Fraknoi will give a brief talk on:

"Why Pluto Is No Longer a Planet: The Inside Story"

and sign copies of his book for children, which
features Buzz Lightyear and other Disney and
Pixar characters.

In his talk, Andrew Fraknoi will discuss why Pluto was
demoted, why the decision makes sense, but how astronomers
really handled things badly in announcing it. He'll even talk
about the connection between Pluto the planet and Pluto
the Disney dog.

Andrew Fraknoi teaches astronomy at Foothill College and
appears regularly on local and national radio explaining
cosmic developments in everyday language. Asteroid 4859
has been named Asteroid Fraknoi to honor his contributions
to the public understanding of astronomy.  This is his
first children's book and his son Alex, who is 13, served as
consultant and editor.

BookShop West Portal is located at 80 West Portal Avenue,
directly across from the Empire Movie Theater, in San Francisco.

For information call 415 564 8080.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
EVENT 2:

Nontechnical Public Lecture on
Asteroids that Hit the Earth


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:

Taking a Hit: Asteroid Impacts and Evolution

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.


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.

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


_______________________________________________
Contacts mailing list
Contacts at aanc-astronomy.org
http://mail.aanc-astronomy.org/mailman/listinfo/contacts