KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The question of life outside planet Earth fascinates the entire human race. It is perhaps the most intriguing topic in all of astronomy.

This coming Saturday, Sept. 24, Lake County’s Taylor Observatory’s County's Window to the Universe Lecture series presents “The Diversity of Alien Worlds.”

The speaker is Professor Stephen Kane of the Department of Astronomy and Physics at San Francisco State University.

Professor Kane will explain the term “habitable zone” which is used to classify the probability that bodies in the universe could harbor alien life.

Kane is an internationally recognized expert in exoplanet discovery. He has personally identified several hundred exoplanets using novel techniques developed by him and by colleagues in this intriguing branch of astronomy.

In addition, Kane heads a group of 14 scientists searching for potential habitable zone planets using the Kepler Space Telescope: www.kepler.nasa.gov .

The Window to the Universe series is sponsored by Friends of the Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium and includes the lecture, a show in the Norton Planetarium and viewing through the observatory’s several telescopes.

The first planetarium show is at 7:30 p.m., followed by the lecture at 8 p.m. and a second planetarium show at 9 p.m., all for an admission price of $5. Lake County K-12 students are admitted with no charge. 

The observatory is at the end of Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

For updates and further information check the Facebook page for Friends of Taylor Observatory or call 415-209-3084.