Expert on Pluto and the New Horizons spacecraft

On July 14, the New Horizons spacecraft will make its closest approach to Pluto, flying within 7,750 miles of this enigmatic dwarf planet. The following University of Victoria faculty member is available to explain our fascination with Pluto and the significance of data collected in the fly-by.

Dr. Jon Willis (Dept. of Physics and Astronomy) is an astronomer who has been following the New Horizons mission with great interest. Willis has a book coming out in 2016 and teaches a course at UVic—both about the search for life in the universe and our thirst for space exploration. This historic fly-by will yield answers to questions about Pluto that have fascinated astronomers like him for years. He can speak about the “fundamentally cool” science of space exploration, the excitement around New Horizons findings, and what those findings mean for our understanding of the origins of our solar system.

— 30 —

Media contacts:
Jon Willis (Dept. of Physics and Astronomy) at 250-721-7740 or jwillis@uvic.ca
Erin King (Science Communications) at 250-721-8745 or scieaco@uvic.ca

Follow us on Twitter: @uvicnews

UVic media relations & services: www.uvic.ca/communicationsmarketing/media
 

-- 30 --