NASA Schedules Hubble Science Update For May 31

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May 25, 2012, 12:26 ET

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA will host a Science Update Thursday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m. EDT to discuss new Hubble Space Telescope observations that allow astronomers to predict with certainty the next major cosmic event to affect our entire galaxy, sun, and solar system.

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The news conference will be held in NASA Headquarters' James E. Webb Auditorium at 300 E St. SW in Washington and be shown live on NASA Television and on the agency's website.

It has been known for a long time that the Andromeda galaxy is approaching us. Because of uncertainties in Andromeda's motion, it has not been possible to determine whether the Milky Way will have a head-on collision or glancing blow with the neighboring galaxy billions of years in the future. Hubble's precise observations will settle this question.

The briefing participants are:

-- Roeland van der Marel, astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore
-- Sangmo Tony Sohn, astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore
-- Rosemary Wyse, professor, Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
-- John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington

Following the news conference, the panelists also will host a web chat at 3 p.m. to answer questions from the general public. Participate by visiting:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/M31_collision_chat.html

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about NASA's Hubble Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

SOURCE NASA