'Planets Everywhere: More Than 500 and Counting' @ 6:30 & 7:45

Free Public Lecture

On Monday evening, Jan. 31, astronomer Andrew Fraknoi
of Foothill College & the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
will give an illustrated, non-technical talk on:

"Planets Everywhere: More Than 500 and Counting"

at the Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W.Olive Ave, just off
El Camino Real.

The program will be presented twice, once at 6:30 pm and
again at 7:45 pm.

There is no charge for the lecture and it is open to the public,
but seating is limited and free tickets are strongly
recommended to reserve a seat.  They can be picked up
in person at the library's Adult Information Desk.  If any seats
remain, they will be made available at the time of the talk on
a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, you
can call: 408-730-7300, option #5.

In the last 15 years, astronomers have become able to find
planets orbiting other stars, and over 500 have now been discovered.
The Kepler mission in space is actively searching for others,
and may ultimately find many more.  Some of the planets we
have discovered are truly alien, and have no counterparts in
our own solar system.  The talk will describe the remarkable
variety of worlds we have already found and preview the
possibility of discovering another Earth out there -- something
that may well happen in the next two years.  This all
gives astronomers greater optimism about finding new
library patrons among the stars.

Andrew Fraknoi is the Chair of the Astronomy Department at
Foothill College and Senior Educator at the Astronomical Society
of the Pacific. He was the California Professor of the Year in
2007 and has received several other awards for his work in
explaining astronomical developments in everyday language.
Radio listeners may recognize Fraknoi from his regular
appearances on KGO, KQED, and KCBS. He is the Vice-Chair
of the Board of Trustees of the nonprofit SETI Institute. Asteroid 4856
has been named Asteroid Fraknoi by the International Astronomical
Union in recognition of his educational work.