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ASTR 113 – 003 Spring 2006 Lecture 14 May 3, 2006. Introduction To Modern Astronomy II. Review (Ch4-5): the Foundation. Sun, Our star (Ch18) Nature of Stars (Ch19) Birth of Stars (Ch20)
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ASTR 113 – 003 Spring 2006 Lecture 14 May 3, 2006 Introduction To Modern Astronomy II Review (Ch4-5): the Foundation • Sun, Our star (Ch18) • Nature of Stars (Ch19) • Birth of Stars (Ch20) • After Main Sequence (Ch21) • Death of Stars (Ch22) • Neutron Stars (Ch23) • Black Holes (Ch24) Star (Ch18-24) • Our Galaxy (Ch25) • Galaxies (Ch26) • Active Galaxies (Ch27) Galaxy (Ch 25-27) 1. Evolution of Universe (Ch28) 2. Early Universe (Ch29) Cosmology (Ch28-29) 1. Extraterrestrial Life (Ch 30) Extraterrestrial Life (Ch30)
ASTR 113 – 003 Spring 2006 Lecture 14 May 3, 2006 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life Chapter Thirty
Guiding Questions • What role could comets and meteorites have played in the origin of life on Earth? • Have spacecraft found any evidence for life elsewhere in our solar system? • Do meteorites from Mars give conclusive proof that life originated there? • How likely is it that other civilizations exist in our Galaxy? • How do astronomers search for evidence of civilizations on planets orbiting other stars? • Will it ever be possible to see Earthlike planets orbiting other stars?
Chemical building blocks of life • All life on Earth is based on carbon-based compounds, called organic molecules • These organic molecules occur naturally in the interstellar clouds of gas and dust throughout galaxies
A “Face” on Mars Viking Orbiter, 1976 Mars Global Survey, 1998
Mars and Europa have the potential for life • Besides Earth, only two worlds in our solar system—the planet Mars and Jupiter’s satellite Europa—may have had the right conditions for the origin of life • Mars once had liquid water on its surface, though it has none today • Life may have originated on Mars during the liquid water era • Europa appears to have extensive liquid water beneath its icy surface
The Drake equation Estimate how many civilizations may inhabit our Galaxy: about 10
SETI • SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence), an ongoing research for searching aliens • The search is best done in radio frequency between 1 to 10 Ghz, the so called water hole • Little noise • Little absorption by the Earth’s atmosphere; penetrate the atmosphere • Little interstellar extinction; penetrate the whole galaxy