Einstein's 'biggest
blunder' subject of
lecture at Foothill College

   Alex Filippenko, professor of astronomy at University of California, Berkeley, and one of the world's foremost authorities on exploding stars, will be the next speaker at the Silicon Valley Astronomy
Lecture Series. He will speak on Wednesday, January 26, at 7 p.m. in Smithwick Theater at Foothill College in Los Altos. Admission to this non-technical, illustrated program is free (on a first-come, first-served basis) and the public is invited.

   Dr. Filippenko's talk, entitled "Einstein's Biggest Blunder: New Discoveries about Cosmic Anti-gravity," will describe the ways in which recent observations of distant exploding stars -- beacons recognized as distance markers for the universe -- are showing that the expansion of the universe appears  to be speeding up. This observation contradicts the slowing many astronomers expected to see. 

   One possible explanation for this apparent contradiction is an "anti-gravity" effect that pushes all the galaxies (and space itself) apart.  Such an idea was proposed by Albert Einstein many years ago, but he later dismissed it as his "biggest blunder." 

   Could his initial suggestion have been right after all?  Come hear the latest evidence and ideas about this bizarre twist in cosmology, at what is sure to be one of the most popular lectures in the series.

   The Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, co-sponsored by NASA's Ames Research Center, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, SETI Institute, and Foothill College, explores exciting developments in our understanding of the universe.

   Six lectures, presented using non-technical language, are being offered during the 1999-2000 academic year. For more information on the lecture series, call 650/ 949-7888.

Alex Filippenko, who has been selected as the favorite teacher on campus several times by Berkeley students, is that rare combination of superb public lecturer and distinguished research scientist.  He leads a team that discovered evidence for the

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"accelerating universe" work that was hailed as  Discovery of the Year by Science magazine.  Among his many other honors, he is the president-elect of Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

   Foothill College is located off Freeway 280 in Los Altos Hills. Exit on El Monte Road and travel west. Parking lots A, C, and E provide easy access to the Smithwick Theater. Visitors must purchase campus parking permits for $2.

   The next lecture in this series will be presented on March 1, 2000 at 7 p.m. A panel of experts from NASA and SETI Institute will discuss "Missions to Mars: Exploring the Red Planet."  Panel topics include scientific interest in Mars, considerations for preventing any possible contamination by Martian microbes, and  further prevention of cross-contamination of Mars by terrestrial organisms.

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