Prize-Winning Vatican Astronomer to Speak in Tucson November 13th

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ of the Vatican Observatory will give a free public lecture on Thursday evening, 13 November 2014, on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. Entitled "Discarded Worlds: Astronomical Ideas That Were Almost Correct," Br. Guy's presentation will explore what lessons can be learned from scientists throughout history whose ideas about our own world and others were wrong — sometimes hilariously, sometimes heartbreakingly. The lecture begins at 7 pm in Centennial Hall (1020 East University Blvd.) and is free and open to the public.

Br. Guy is attending the 46th meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS), to be held at the JW Marriott Starr Pass from November 9th through the 14th (http://aas.org/meetings/dps46, Twitter hashtag #dps46). He'll be joined by some 700 other researchers presenting new results on our solar system as well as on extrasolar planetary systems from both ground- and space-based studies. The DPS offers complimentary press registration to qualified local media representatives who wish to cover the meeting: http://aas.org/meetings/dps46/press-information.

Br. Guy is the 2014 recipient of the DPS Carl Sagan Medal for his decades-long track record of communicating planetary science to the public while maintaining an active science career. He occupies a unique position within the profession as a credible spokesperson for scientific honesty within the context of religious belief. Br. Guy has authored or edited six books, with Turn Left at Orion (with Dan Davis) in its fourth edition of publication. This book alone has had an enormous impact on the amateur astronomy community, engendering public support for astronomy. In addition to writing books, he is a dynamic popular speaker, giving 40 to 50 public lectures every year across both Europe and the United States, reaching thousands of people. He regularly gives interviews on BBC radio shows on planetary-science topics and has hosted his own BBC radio show. As a Jesuit Brother, Guy Consolmagno has become the voice of the juxtaposition of planetary science and astronomy with Christian belief, a rational spokesperson who can convey exceptionally well how religion and science can coexist, as exemplified in his most recent book (with Fr. Paul Mueller SJ), Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?

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SOURCE American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences