Timothy Ferris of Sonoma County will be discussing ideas from his new book, "Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril," in a special presentation from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Dec. 5 in the Evert B. Person Theatre at Sonoma State University.
The presentation is sponsored by the university's Lifelong Learning Institute and is free and open to the public.
Ferris, considered one of the finest science writers of his time, reports in his newest book on the technological revolution now sweeping through astronomy, which has allowed amateurs to observe and interpret the kind of phenomena that were previously accessible only to a few professionals.
Ferris will explain how innovations developed since 1980 ? including light-sensitive computer chips, robotic telescopes, and the Internet ? have enabled amateurs to make real contributions to scientific understanding.
He provides tips on observing techniques, observing lists, and star charts. He tells how to find splendid celestial objects, how to look at them, and what they really are.
Ferris has been stargazing since 1956 and writing about astronomy since 1960. His best-selling books include "The Whole Shebang and Coming of Age in the Milky Way," which have been translated into fifteen languages and were named by The New York Times as two of the leading books published in the twentieth century.
For further information, contact Barbara Brooks, Lifelong Learning Institute, (707) 664-2691
