"A Grand Tour of the Universe"

In this non-technical program, astronomer Andrew Fraknoi will take participants on a "tourist's tour" of the universe as astronomers understand it today, starting with the planets and moons of our own solar system and then out into the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond. Fraknoi will illustrate his presentation with the latest color images from the Hubble Space Telescope, probes that flew by or orbited the planets, and the world’s largest telescopes on the ground.

As an educator, Fraknoi is known for his skill in interpreting astronomical discoveries and ideas in everyday language. He is Chair of the Astronomy Program at Foothill College near San Francisco, where he teaches courses on "astronomy and physics for poets."

A prolific author, Fraknoi has edited two collections of science articles and science fiction stories for Bantam Books, and is the lead author of Voyages through the Universe, which has become one of the leading astronomy textbooks in the world. He also is a frequent guest and commentator on radio and television. The International Astronomical Union has named Asteroid 4859 “Asteroid Fraknoi” to honor his work in sharing the excitement of modern astronomy with students, teachers and the public.

Donations will be accepted.