[AANC Contacts] For July Newsletters: Free Public Talk on the Top Tourist Sights of the Solar System July 9

[Andrew Fraknoi]

The Top Tourist Sights of the Solar System:
Where Bill Gates' Great-Granddaughter Might Go on Her Honeymoon
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Free Public Lecture at Sunnyvale Library (tickets required)


Astronomer and popular lecturer Andrew Fraknoi will explore the most 
intriguing future tourist destinations among the planets and moons in 
our cosmic neighborhood in a program on Thursday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. 
in the Sunnyvale Library program room.  A limited number of tickets 
are available free on a first-come, first-served basis at the Adult 
Reference Desk.

The illustrated tour will include the 4,000 mile lava channel on 
Venus, the towering Mount Olympus volcano on Mars (three times the 
height of Mount Everest), the awesome Verona Cliffs on the moon 
Miranda (which are the tallest "lover's leap" in the solar system), 
and the mysterious ice-cracks of the moon Europa, under which may be 
a global ocean. No background in science will be required for this 
non-technical talk.

The Sunnyvale Public Library is located at 665 West Olive Ave., 
across from City Hall.  Free parking is always available, and VTA 
line 54 serves the Library.  For more information about Library 
services and activities, visit www.sunnyvalelibrary.org or call the 
Reference Desk at (408) 730-7300.

Andrew Fraknoi is the Chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill 
College and the former Executive Director of the Astronomical Society 
of the Pacific.  He was selected as the 2007 California Professor of 
the Year by the Carnegie Endowment.  He is a frequent guest on KGO 
radio and on the Forum program on KQED.  His children's book, 
Disney's Wonderful World of Space, is coming out in paperback in July 
2009.  Asteroid 4859 has been named Asteroid Fraknoi to recognize his 
contributions to the public understanding of science (but he wants to 
reassure everyone that it is a very boring asteroid, and not one that 
could hit the Earth.)

This talk is part of the celebrations of the International Year of 
Astronomy and the International Year of Science.