The Race for Habitable Worlds and Life in the Universe

Join Northwestern's new Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics and guest lecturer Geoff Marcy from UC Berkeley for this exciting event!

Science fiction has deluged us with images of our Milky Way Galaxy teeming with habitable planets and populated by advanced civilizations engaged in interstellar communication, commerce, and conflicts. Back in our real universe, Earth-like planets and extraterrestrial life have proved elusive. None have been found.

This year, 2010, astronomers are launching the first searches for Earth-like worlds around other stars, using extraordinary telescopes on the ground and in space. A worldwide race for the first habitable worlds and extraterrestrial life has begun.

Free and open to the public. This lecture will be followed by a special viewing session with Dearborn Observatory’s historic 18.5-inch telescope at 6:15PM.