RELEASE NO: 97-181

NOTE TO EDITORS: N97-90

NEXT SPACE SCIENCE UPDATE FEATURES STARS IN BLAZE OF GLORY

The next Space Science Update (SSU), called "Final Blaze of Glory," is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. EST. The Update will feature a dazzling collection of detailed views released by several teams of astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The images reveal surprisingly intricate glowing patterns spun into space by aging stars: pinwheels, lawn sprinkler style jets, elegant goblet shapes, and even some that look like a rocket engine's exhaust.

The astronomers say the incandescent sculptures are forcing a re-thinking of stellar evolution. In particular, the patterns may be woven by an aging star's interaction with unseen companions: planets, brown dwarfs, or smaller stars.

Panelists will be:

* Dr. Howard Bond, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Baltimore MD

* Dr. Mario Livio, STScI

* Dr. Bruce Balick, University of Washington, Seattle

* Dr. Anne L. Kinney, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD

* Dr. David Leckrone, HST Project Scientist, Goddard Space Flight

Center, Greenbelt, MD, panel moderator

The SSU will originate from NASA Headquarters Auditorium, 300 E St., SW, Washington, DC, and will be carried live on NASA TV with two-way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the event from participating NASA centers.

NASA Television is broadcast on the GE2 satellite which is located on Transponder 9C, at 85 degrees West longitude, frequency 3880.0 Mhz, audio 6.8 MHz. Audio of the broadcast will be available on voice circuit at the Kennedy Space Center on 407/867-1220.