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Paris, 31 March 2003
European Space Agency
Press Release
Nx 21-2003

Searching for habitable planets with Eddington

The scientific community involved in the search for habitable planets
will meet in Palermo (Italy) on April 9-11 to take an important step
towards the discovery of other worlds which might harbour life. 

The European Space Agency and the Astronomical Observatory of Palermo
have organised an international workshop, entitled “Stellar-structure
and habitable planet finding'', dedicated specifically to selection
of the single area of the sky that will be searched for habitable
planets by Eddington, the European mission due for launch at the
beginning of 2008. 

The workshop has attracted more than 150 participants, from most
European countries and also from the USA and Australia. In addition
to the leading scientists in the field of extra-solar planets,
representatives from several European space companies will be
attending. 

'Eddington' is an European astronomical space observatory currently
being developed by ESA; one of its key scientific aims is the
discovery, for the first time, of habitable planets, i.e. planets
which could harbour life as we know it on Earth. Eddington will put
European scientists in a leading position in this key scientific
challenge. It will search for habitable planets in a single area of
the sky (its 'target field'); the choice of target field is therefore
a critical decision in the mission's lifetime.

Media representatives are welcome to attend the workshop; a press
lunch will be organised on April 11, during which some of the leading
scientists attending the workshop will be available to answer
questions from journalists.

Details of the workshop arrangements are given at
http://www.astropa.unipa.it/Eddington/Index.html
During the workshop, details of its progress will be available at the
same address.

Media representatives wishing to attend the workshop are required to
complete the attached registration form.

Further information about the Eddington mission, the workshop and its
outcome can be requested from:

Fabio Favata
Eddington Project Scientist
ESA, Astrophysics Division
Fabio.Favata{at}rssd.esa.int
Tel. +31(0)71.565.4665
_____________________________________________________________________

 
Workshop on stellar-structure and habitable planet finding 
Palermo - 9/11 April 2003


First name:  ________________________ Surname: _____________________

Media: _____________________________________________________________

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(  )  I will be attending the workshop

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Please fax back to :
Franca Morgia
ESA/ESRIN
Tel: +39(06)9418.0951
Fax: +39.06.9418.0952

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