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WELCOME! to the home page for ASTR 3300 (cross listed as GEOL 3300): Extraterrestrial
Life. This course provides an introduction to the rapidly growing field of astrobiology -
the scientific study of the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe. During the course of the
semester we will study questions that include the nature and possible origin of life on Earth;
the possibility of life on Mars and elsewhere in the Solar System; the formation and habitability
of planets; how planets (and life on them) can be detected; and the feasibility of searching for
intelligent life. The formal policies for the class are outlined in the
class syllabus.
CLASS BLOG
Formula sheet for Final
PROBLEM SETS:
Problem set #1: Solutions
Problem set #2: Solutions
Problem set #3: Solutions
Problem set #4
Problem set #5: Solutions
Problem set #6 (due Thursday April 24th)
Galactic communication applet for problem 4
INTERIM GRADES:
Instructions for estimating your grade to date from the midterm
plus the first 4 homeworks.
LECTURES:
(1) Introduction to astrobiology
(2) Cosmic context: stars and formation of heavy elements
(3) How do stars form?
(4) The protoplanetary disk
(5) Planet formation
(6) The energy budget of planets
(7) Long term climate stability
(8) Radioactive dating of rocks
(9) Common features of life on Earth
(10) Major landmarks in the evolution of life
(11) Extremophiles and the limits of life on Earth
(12) The origin of life on Earth
(13) Basic properties of Mars today
(14) Evidence for water on Mars
(15) The Viking astrobiology experiments
(16) Europa
(17) Titan
(18) Enceladus
(19) Radial velocity method for extrasolar planet detection
(20) Results of radial velocity searches
(21) Detecting planets via transits
(22) Prospects for measuring atmospheric properties of
exoplanets
(23) Approaches for SETI
(24) SETI searches, the difficulties of interstellar travel
(25) Interstellar travel technology
(26) Hazards from asteroid and comet impacts
REFERENCES: The class textbook
Life in the
Universe (Bennett and Shostak), should be available from the bookstore. Other references
I have made use of in preparing the course include the
Complete Course in Astrobiology and the very useful
Astrobiology Primer (which can be downloaded
for free). You may also want to peruse articles in the
Astrobiology Magazine.
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