Dr. Carlos Alvarez of the W. M. Keck Observatory will explain how 4.5 billion years ago, a planet was forming between Mars and Jupiter. The force of Jupiter’s gravity, however, crushed this proto-planet into a wide band of millions of small rocky objects called asteroids.  These asteroids bombarded the Earth and as they were destroyed on impact they left water and organic molecules on Earth.  Dr. Alvarez will explain how state-of-the-art astronomical facilities on Mauna Kea are being used to study the chemical composition of asteroids that are likely to be the source of the water in our oceans and the origin of life on Earth.

Program schedule is subject to change. Contact the library 15 days in advance to request a sign language interpreter or if special accommodations are needed.