Cynthia Phillips to talk on October 5, 2005 at 7 p.m.

Astronomer Cynthia Phillips will give a non-technical, illustrated talk on: Jupiter's Tantalizing Moon: Water (and Life?) Under the Ice of Europa in the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, El Monte Road and Freeway 280, in Los Altos Hills, California. Free and open to the public. Parking on campus costs $2.Call the series hot-line at 650-949-7888 for more information.

Ever since robot spacecraft have been exploring the Jupiter system, one moon has especially captured the interest of astronomers. Although Europa's surface is cold and frozen, there is evidence that, under the ice, it has an ocean of warmer, liquid water. In her talk, Dr. Phillips will explore Europa's geology, focusing on the prospects for water and the possibilities of life in that deep alien ocean.

No background in science will be required for this talk, which will interest both fans of astronomy and the search for life.

Dr. Phillips is a Principal Investigator for a number of projects investigating Europa and Mars at the SETI Institute. She specializes in the geology of planetary surfaces and the search for life in the solar system. She worked with the Galileo spacecraft imaging team to help design observations of Europa and other moons of Jupiter. She is co-author of "The Everything Astronomy Book" and "The Everything Einstein Book," both published by Adams Media.

Co-sponsored by:

* NASA Ames Research Center

* The Foothill College Astronomy Program

* The SETI Institute

* The Astronomical Society of the Pacific