This descriptive, general interest course explores the topic of life in the universe. Some of the following topics will be covered. (1) Some astronomy fundamentals (gravity, light). (2) The solar system (an introduction to the solar system, the formation of the solar system, the origin of life on Earth, extremophiles, the conditions needed for life, possible locations for life in the solar system). (3) Exoplanets (discovery methods, properties of detected Exoplanets, the Habitable Zone). (4) Star system formation (pre-stellar disks, planetary migration). (5) The Interstellar medium (nebulae, molecular clouds). (6) Our Milky Way galaxy as an environment for life and the Drake Equation. (7) The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). This course is qualitative with simple arithmetic and trigonometry used occasionally [3 credits]
This descriptive, general interest course explores the topic of life in the universe. Some of the following topics will be covered. (1) Some astronomy fundamentals (gravity, light). (2) The solar system (an introduction to the solar system, the formation of the solar system, the origin of life on Earth, extremophiles, the conditions needed for life, possible locations for life in the solar system). (3) Exoplanets (discovery methods, properties of detected Exoplanets, the Habitable Zone). (4) Star system formation (pre-stellar disks, planetary migration). (5) The Interstellar medium (nebulae, molecular clouds). (6) Our Milky Way galaxy as an environment for life and the Drake Equation. (7) The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). This course is qualitative with simple arithmetic and trigonometry used occasionally [3 credits]
