Parade Magazine Science Editor to Speak on Campus

Levy's presentation is free and open to the public. A reception will be held in the Honors Center, Room 125, Hawkins Hall, following his talk.

Among the 22 comets Levy discovered is Shoemaker-Levy 9. Co-discovered by Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker, Shoemaker-Levy 9 is famous for its collision with Jupiter in 1994. According to NASA, this collision was the first one of its kind to be observed by humans.

Levy is also a contributing editor for Sky and Telescope Magazine, writing its monthly "Star Trails" column. He has written and/or edited 35 books and was on the team that won an Emmy for writing the script of the Discovery Channel documentary 'Three Minutes to Impact."

Having given more than 1000 lectures and high profile interviews, Levy is a well-known lecturer, who has made appearances on the "Today Show," "Good Morning America" and "ABC World News Tonight."

"It is an exceptional opportunity and honor for SUNY Plattsburgh to host David Levy, one of the world's best-known astronomers," said Dr. David Mowry, SUNY distinguished teaching professor of philosophy and director of the college's Honors Center. "Mr. Levy's continued connection to and interest in SUNY Plattsburgh is an important indication of the unusual educational opportunities the college provides its students."

Levy's connection with SUNY Plattsburgh began when he was a teenager and attended the college's Adirondack Science Camp at Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center near Lewis, N.Y. According to Levy, his visits to Twin Valleys between 1964 and 1966 led him to become an amateur and eventually a professional astronomer.

Since then, Levy has returned to the college to be a part of various astronomy gatherings at Twin Valleys and to receive an honorary degree from the State University of New York at the college's spring 2005 commencement ceremony.

Levy has also become a patron of the college, donating a 14-inch reflecting telescope and mounts. Eventually, the college hopes to build an observatory to house the telescope at Twin Valleys and utilize telecommunications so that students and faculty can benefit from it without leaving campus.