Los Alamos scientist featured in NASA science update

Contact: Nancy Ambrosiano, nwa@lanl.gov, (505) 667-0471 (05-012)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 17, 2005 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory astrophysicist David Palmer will be among the scientists discussing a recent, dramatic gamma-ray flash that occurred some 50,000 light years away, beyond the edge of our galaxy, as detected by NASA's Swift Observatory and others. Palmer is part of the Los Alamos team that developed instrumentation and software for the satellite, launched in late 2004. He is a member of the Laboratory's International, Space and Response Division.

WHAT: Researchers will discuss what causes these flashes and their impact on our surrounding solar system at the next NASA Science Update.

WHEN: 12 p.m. MST, Friday, Feb. 18.

WHERE: NASA Headquarters Webb Auditorium, 300 E Street S.W., Washington

WHO:
Dr. David Palmer, astrophysicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory, N.M.;
Dr. Michael Salamon, discipline scientist, Universe Division, NASA Headquarters;
Dr. Bryan Gaensler, assistant professor of astronomy,Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Mass.;
Dr. Roger Blandford, professor of physics, Stanford University, Calif.;
Dr. Andrew Fruchter, associate astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore.

For more information about NASA and Swift on the Internet, visit http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov online. Additional images and animations are available at http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/watchtheskies/
swift_nsu_0205.html online.

The update is live on NASA TV, available on the Web and via satellite in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 4060.0 MHz, polarization is vertical; audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.

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