February 9, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Award Winning Astronomer speaks on Exotic Methane Lakes on Saturn’s Titan at Astronomy Meeting

(Princeton University, Princeton, NJ) - Dr. Jonathan I. Lunine, Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Lunar and Planetary Lab of the University of Arizona is the keynote speaker for the February 27 special science meeting of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton (AAAP). The meeting begins promptly at 8:00 PM in the main lecture theatre of Peyton Hall (Ivy Lane) on the Princeton University campus. The public is invited. AAAP web site: http://www.princetonastronomy.org

Dr. Lunine’s talk is titled "Methane Lakes and Methane Rain on Titan: What it All Means". He is a leading science team member on the current NASA Cassini Mission to explore Saturn and is a distinguished expert on its moon Titan, the most Earth-like body in our Solar System. Water profoundly affects Earth’s climate, weather systems, surface geology and tectonics. Substitute the word “Titan” for “Earth” and “methane” for “water”, and you have a relationship that is equally profound. Cassini-Huygens data show Titan to be an exotic version of a terrestrial planet actively evolving in most every way that the Earth does, with the exception—we presume!--of life.

Prof Lunine is the David Baltimore Distinguished Visiting Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he serves on the Director’s Council. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Geophysical Union, which awarded him the James B. Macelwane medal. Other awards include the Harold C. Urey Prize from the American Astronomical Society.

Dr. Lunine is the author of over 170 scientific papers and of the books “Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World” and “Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach”. His research interests center broadly on the formation and evolution of planets and planetary systems, the nature of organics in the outer solar system, and the processes that lead to the formation of habitable worlds. He chairs the ExoPlanet Task force chartered by NASA and the NSF.

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton is an organization of over 100 members with an interest in all aspects of astronomy and space science. Founded in 1962, the AAAP promotes a wide range of astronomy-related interests including: planetary and deep sky observing, solar observing, star-parties, CCD imaging, and public outreach. The group owns and operates two observatories in NJ. Members' experience range from Nobel laureates in astronomy and astrophysics, to the occasional armchair investigator and complete novice. All share a common love of the sky.

Complete meeting details and directions are found at the AAAP web site: http://www.princetonastronomy.org