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Exploring the Universe: Life, Stars, and Planets

Dive into the mysteries of the solar system, stars, and search for life beyond Earth in this space-age course. Understand scientific methodology, explore the roots of life, and satisfy general education requirements. Lectures cover life in the Universe, our physical environment, space flights, and more. Join us to unravel the secrets of the cosmos!

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Exploring the Universe: Life, Stars, and Planets

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  1. AY 80:Space-age Solar System Instructor: Doug Lin ISB 337, Tel: 459 2732, lin@ucolick.org Lectures: T/Th 8-9:45am Thimann 1 Office hours: Tue/Thur 2-3:15 pm, ISB 337 general info: www.ucolick.org/~lin/AY80 TA: Laura Langlang-Shula ISB 111, Tel: 459 3809, laura@ucolick.org Office hours: Mon/Wed 3-4 pm, ISB 111 Sections: Wed/Fri 2-3pm, ISB 165 Text books:Into the final frontier, by Bernard McNamara Life in the Universe, by J. Bennett, S. Shostak, B. Jakosky Exams (Participation in both exams is necessary to pass): Midterm: Feb 8, 8-9:15am, in class Final: Mar 15, 12-3pm, in class Homeworks: Hand out on Thursdays & return a week later Homework 20%, Midterm 35%, Final 45%

  2. Philosophy • Understanding the process of scientific methodology. • To learn some astronomy with regard to the roots of life, planets, • & stars. • To satisfy the general education and math requirements. Main topics • Life in the Universe • Our physical environment • Nature of life • Evolution of the Earth • Space flights beyond the Earth • Scientitic unmanned missions • Life in the solar system • Search for other worlds

  3. Lecture 1: an overview Life in the Universe Are we alone?

  4. Once habitable environment Condition which harbors life Liquid water! Ocean below the ice surface on Europa Salt deposit on Marsian rocks: dried up lake.

  5. Probability of life 1:worlds beyond imagination 100 billion stars

  6. Vast range of distance scales 1 light year = speed of light x 1 yr = 9,460,000,000,000 km

  7. Life cycle of starsFrom gas to stars to gas Red giants Planetary nebula Young stars Main sequence Interstellar medium supernoave

  8. Nucleo synthesispowers the Sun The pp chain

  9. Chemical abundance Triple a reaction CNO cycle Solar abundance

  10. Heavy elements in massive stars supernovae Stellar winds Radioactive isotope production

  11. Large structure of the universecosmic expansion Big bang & age of the universe: 12 Gyr

  12. Chemical abundance in starsheavy element contamination

  13. Star and planet formation Condensation of dust and formation of planets

  14. Probability of life 2:Necessary conditions • Chemical elements • Sources of energy from stellar luminosity • Organic molecules in the interstellar medium • Life emerged on earth within 1 Gyr • Life survived major disasters • Life can be transported elsewhere

  15. Quest: to search for the origin and proliferation of life in the Universe

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