'Planets Everywhere: More Than 500 and Counting' (twice! 6:30 & 7:45)

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.