April 7, 1997

Astronomer Sandra Faber to speak on successes of Hubble Space Telescope

By Robert Irion

When poor vision hobbled the Hubble Space Telescope, UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber and several colleagues suggested that a set of high-tech corrective lenses would restore the telescope's keen eyesight. They were right, and in the last three years Hubble has rewarded astronomers--and the public--with one stunning view of the cosmos after another.

On Friday, April 18, Faber will treat a Santa Cruz audience to some of those results in a public lecture. Her talk, "The Latest Images from the Hubble Space Telescope: Delight at the End of the Tunnel," will begin at 8 p.m. in Classroom Unit 2. Admission is free.

Faber has been involved in building, testing, and observing with the Hubble Space Telescope since the project's inception. She is a team member for the telescope's Wide Field Planetary Camera, one of Hubble's most frequently used and important observing instruments. During her lecture, Faber will draw from her extensive collection of Hubble images to paint a vivid picture of how the telescope has helped to revolutionize astronomy since its repair in 1993.

An astronomer at UC Observatories/Lick Observatory, Faber came to UCSC in 1972. She is now University Professor of astronomy and astrophysics, a position that signifies eminent research and teaching accomplishments. She also is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Her talk is part of the Delphasus Lecture Series, funded by a private gift to UCSC to increase public appreciation of issues in astronomy and physics. For more information, call the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at (408) 459-2844.

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