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. [NOTE: Not attached - A.Y.]

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@rssd.esa.int
Tel. +31(0)71.565.4665

Related links

* Eddington workshop http://www.astropa.unipa.it/Eddington/Index.html

* Eddington http://sci.esa.int/home/eddington/

* Workshop attendance form http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/Pr_21_2003_p_EN.html

IMAGE CAPTION: [http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM6D79YFDD_index_1.html] ESA's Eddington mission is designed to detect habitable planets across a wide range of stellar types. Credits: ESA 2001. Illustration by Medialab