With the success of the new Cosmos television series, more people than ever are wondering about the possibility of finding life in our vast universe. But we may not have to go to the farthest reaches of space to find life—it could be found in our very own solar system. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has observed water vapor above the frigid south polar region of Jupiter’s moon Europa, and the Cassini spacecraft and Deep Space Network have uncovered evidence that Saturn’s moon Enceladus harbors a large underground ocean of liquid water, furthering scientific interest in the moon as a potential home to extraterrestrial microbes.

Thursday, June 12, 2014 • 8:00 p.m.
Oregon Observatory at Sunriver
57245 River Road, Sunriver

Tuesday, July 15, 2014 • 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Bend Library

The public is invited to join Deschutes Public Library for two talks that will explore the possibility of life existing beyond Earth. The first takes place at the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver on June 12 at 8:00 p.m. This event will begin with a talk then shift to Observatory’s large array of outdoor viewing telescopes. The second talk takes place at the Downtown Bend Library on July 15 at 6:00 p.m. (there will be no outdoor viewing at the Bend presentation). Both talks are led by Bob Grossfeld, manager of the Observatory. Both talks are free and open to all ages; no registration is required. These events are part of the Library’s “Literary Elements” Summer Reading Program series in June and July.

Bob Grossfeld first came to the Observatory as a volunteer in 1990 after receiving his B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and became the manager of the Observatory in 1998. He has advanced the teaching of astronomy and the outreach of the organization throughout the greater northwest community. He has been a distinguished member of NASA/JPL Solar Ambassador program since 1998. Since 2007 he has also been the principal instructor in astronomy at COCC. Grossfeld continues his education through special programs offered through NASA and MIT.

For more information about these or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Tina at 541-312-1034.