March 2005

NASA changes Spitzer science update to today

Astronomers will announce major findings about planets outside our solar system, known as extrasolar planets, at a NASA Science Update at 3 p.m. EST today.

The Update is in the NASA auditorium, 300 E St., SW, Washington. NASA TV will carry it live. Reporters may watch the briefing at participating NASA centers.

The discoveries were made by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Researchers have discovered new capabilities of the infrared telescope to aid in the study of these planets.

Panelists:

Dr. Drake Deming, chief, planetary systems laboratory, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Dr. David Charbonneau, assistant professor of astronomy, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass.
Dr. Alan Boss, staff research astronomer, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Dr. Kim Weaver, moderator; Spitzer program scientist, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

NASA TV is available in the continental United States on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. NASA TV is available

In Alaska and Hawaii on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, located at 137 degrees west longitude. Frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.