ASTR 342 Powerpoints

Life Beyond the Earth

This page allows access to the powerpoint presentations used in ASTR342. All Notes are copyright © 2005--2008 Robert T. Rood. All rights reserved. These notes are intended for the private, noncommercial use of students enrolled in Astronomy 342 at the University of Virginia. Reproduction, distribution, and commercial uses are prohibited.

22 Feb: Note on the reading assignments. I had overlooked the fact that there is a new edition of the book I have been using. Below I have added the reading from Bennett & Shostak, Life in the Universe, 2nd Ed. (BS) I have retained the old book assignments in case some one is using that book

Part 1 --- ETI

Introduction

Introduction

A Quick Tour of the Galaxy

Reading: Bennett \& Shostak (BS) Chaps. 1, 2, 3

Reading: Bennett, Shostak, & Jakosky (BSJ) Chaps. 1, 2

Reading: LBE Preface, Perspectives 1, Chap. 1

Stars

The Structure and Evolution of the Sun

Brightness, Luminosity and Distance

Stellar masses, lifetimes, supernovae, conclusions

Reading: BS, 10.4, 11.1, 11.4

Reading: LBE Chap. 2

Planets

Reading: LBE Chaps. 3, 4

Reading: BS 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3

Reading: BSJ p 19--22, 4.2, 10.3

Assignment: If you do not already know the material you should become familiar with electromagnetic radiation in all its guises. E.g., LBE Chapter 11 and BSJ p 103, p 154

Solar System Basic Facts, The Nebular Hypothesis, star formation

Planet formation

Detecting Extra-Solar-System Planets

The Stardust Mission

Earthlike Planets

Reading: LBE Chap. 5

Reading: BS Chap. 4 (look at the pictues in the geology part) key stuf is in 4.5,, Chapter 10

Reading: BSJ Chap. 4 especially 4.3--4.6

Atmospheres and Climate---Basics --

Continuously Habitable Zones --

Origin of Life

Reading: LBE Chaps. 6 & 7

Reading: BS From Chap 5 (5.1, 5.5, 5.6); From Chap 6 (6.1, 6.3); Chap. 7 (7.1) -- To encourage you to read this material the first test will have a few questions from the book on material not covered in class (7.2) Chap 8 & 9 once over lightly

Reading: BSJ Chap. 3; From Chap 5 (5.1--5.3); From Chap 6 (6.1 & 6.3); Chap. 7 -- To encourage you to read this material the first test will have a few questions from the book on material not covered in class

Basics & Terrestrial Life --

Mars --

Water on Mars? Summary added 22 Feb

Life on Mars --

Europa & Titan

Quiz1 ends here

Intelligence, Lifetime, & Chauvanisms

Reading: LBE Chaps. 8

Reading: BSJ Section 11.2

Reading: BS 6.3,6.4,6.5,6.6 (lightly), 12.2

The Evolution of Intelligence and the Human Brain --

The Evolution of Technology --

Lifetime of Technological Civilizations --

Drake Equation---Conclusions --

Reading: BSJ Section 12.3--12.4

Reading: BS 12.1

SETI

Reading: LBE 11,12,13

Reading: BS 12.3

Signals, noise, and all that --

Radio Telescopes --

Some Radio Telescope Pictures

The Cosmic Haystack --

SETI Projects --

Energy 1 --

Costs of SETI Broadcasts --

Test 2 ends here.

Part 3 --- Space Colonies

Colony gravity & Impact danger --

More Colony Essentials --

Rockets, Earth/Moon System --

Mass drivers --

Space colony summary --

Options for a power rich civilization --

Interstellar travel & colonization; the Hart Paradox --

Their reaction to discovering us -- Try it. You'll like it.

Powerpoint Presentations for ASTR342 are now complete.

Return to ASTR 342 Home Page