last updated 11/26/16
| MEETING | TOPIC | READING |
| Thursday, Sept. 8, 8:30 PM | Introductory Group Meeting in TPL 110 BRING YOUR SCHEDULES! |
|
| Week 1 Sept. 12-16 |
Introduction and Context Q: The nebular theory of planetary system formation describes a process whereby the development and characteristics of planetary systems can be understood in terms of general physical principles governing a contracting protostellar cloud. As you examine nebular theory and its successful explanation of the properties of our own system, evaluate its potential for applicability to extrasolar planetary systems, and discuss any modifications that might be necessary. Finally, discuss whether you think the basic scenario described by nebular theory is the only way to form a planetary system.HW: Ch. 2: 49-53; Ch. 3: 56, 61-64 |
• Ch. 1-3 |
| Week 2 Sept. 19-23 |
Geology, Evolution, Habitability of Earth
Q: Evaluate the role of plate tectonics in Earth’s climate history. Discuss your view of the relationship, if any, between Earth-like geological features and the development of life on other worlds. Include your view of how the absence or presence of plate tectonics could affect the development of an intelligent civilization on a planet. HW: Ch. 4: 48, 53, 54; Ch. 6: 52-55 |
• Ch. 4-6
• Astrobiology article: you might also look at this article |
| Week 3 Sept. 26-30 |
Other Life in the Solar System? Q: The odds of life having arisen on Mercury or the Moon are extremely low. The outer planets are also unlikely harborers of life. But Mars, of course, is another story. Enumerate and discuss what you believe are the starkest similarities and differences between Mars’s history and Earth’s history that bear on the question of life. HW (2 parts): A: Use the Solar System Collisions calculator (http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/impact/) to find the diameter (to nearest 0.1 km) of the smallest ice-composition impactor that will trigger a mass extinction, noting how often this kind of collision is expected (as reported on the results page). Select “Earth” – not “Earth (land only)” – and keep the default velocity of 20 km/sec. Repeat for rock and iron compositions. Tabulate the results and write a one-paragraph summary. B: Ch. 8: 53-57 |
• Ch. 7-8;
• Astrobiology article Jupiter: Cosmic Jekyll and Hyde; also start reading the new Astrobiology Primer 2.0, and read relevant sections for subsequent weeks |
| Week 4 Oct. 17-21 |
Life on Outer Solar System Moons? Q: The moons of the outer planets are small and far from the sun, and on that basis they are poor candidates in the search for life. BUT… (complete the discussion, concentrating on Europa and Titan). HW: Ch. 9: 48-50 |
• Ch. 9 |
| Week 5 Oct. 24-28 |
Multiple Dimensions of Habitability Q: The concept of a “habitable zone” has evolved since it was most simply defined as any location where liquid water could exist. Discuss factors that have led to a loosening and a general rethinking of the original constraint, and how they affect our understanding of the possibilities. HW: Ch. 10: 44, 51, 52 |
• Ch.10;
• Astrobiology articles Habitability: A Review; and Superhabitable Worlds; you might also look at this article again |
| Week 6 Oct. 31 – Nov. 4 |
Extrasolar Planets: Discovery and Methods Q: Distinguish among the various planet-detection methods. In particular, evaluate the selection effects of these methods: the characteristics of the planets and orbits they are best suited to discover, and those planets they will miss. Tabulate past and current exoplanet-finding missions, the technique they employ, and their current results. Summarize upcoming and proposed exoplanet-finding missions and any new technology they anticipate deploying.
HW: Planet Hunters Exercise |
• Ch.11;
• Astrobiology article The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in Earth’s Solar Transit Zone |
| Week 7 Oct. Nov. 7-11 |
Extrasolar Planet Parameter Space Q: Consider the exoplanets for which orbit size, mass, radius, and therefore, density (and likely composition) are known, as well as their parent star’s mass and lifetime. Describe how these planets are classified; discuss how their orbital and physical properties allow us to study the architecture of planetary systems. HW: Ch. 11: 46, 50, 54, 59 |
• Ch. 11;
• Astrobiology article Walking on Exoplanets: Is Star Wars Right?” |
| Week 8 Nov. 14-18 |
The Drake equation, revisited Q: The iconic Drake Equation represents a distillation of factors governing the current number of technological civilizations in the Galaxy. Given what you have already read and explored in this course, write down your own version of the Drake Equation. Then, consider the Frank and Sullivan article: they describe an alternative approach that examines constraints on any technological species having evolved at all. Take the reader through their arguments and conclusions. Finally, a brief calculation: if there are currently 100 technological civilizations in the Galaxy, with an (optimistic!) average lifetime of 105 years, use their formulation to calculate the total number of technological civilizations that have ever arisen in the Galaxy. Are you surprised by this number? Does it seem high or low; why? HW: Ch. 12: 38, 39, 42, 47, 48, 50 |
• Ch. 12; • Astrobiology articles: Alien Mindscapes; A New Empirical Constraint on the Prevalence of Technological Species in the Universe |
| Week 9 Nov. 28 – Dec. 2 |
The Fermi Paradox Q: Gray’s paper lays out the circumstances of Fermi’s original comment along with the real consequences of what he considers its erroneous propagation as the “Fermi Paradox.” Consider what you have learned about exoplanet statistics, habitability, the status of current SETI searches, and the requirements for interstellar travel, and take a stand on what we should conclude from the current lack of evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations. HW: Ch. 13: 44, 45, 47, 51, 58 |
• Ch. 13; • SETI.org on the Fermi Paradox; • Astrobiology articles: The Fermi Paradox is Neither Fermi’s Nor a Paradox; and Searching for Clever Life; |
| Week 10 Dec. 5-9 |
Discovery! Q: You have been appointed as the U.S. director of public information in the case of a positive SETI detection. Outline your actions in the days following the first detection of a simple, “Are you there?” signal from a distant star system (>1000 LY away, far enough that there is no chance of an impending visit). Include a list of meetings you would convene and write your first national press release (<500 words), which you will read aloud). All students in a tutorial session should write a press release. | • Epilogue
• “The Impact of Discovering Life Beyond Earth” e-book: Ch. 3, 17, 18, 20 and any other that piques your interest! • SETI.org pages: Protocols after Detection;and Social Implications |
WEEK 3 BELOW HERE:
Week 3
Sept. 26-30Other Life in the Solar System?
Q: The odds of life having arisen on Mercury or the Moon are extremely low. The outer planets are also unlikely harborers of life. But Mars, of course, is another story. Enumerate and discuss what you believe are the starkest similarities and differences between Mars’s history and Earth’s history that bear on the question of life.
HW (2 parts):
A: Use the Solar System Collisions calculator (http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/impact/) to find the diameter (to nearest 0.1 km) of the smallest ice-composition impactor that will trigger a mass extinction, noting how often this kind of collision is expected (as reported on the results page). Select “Earth” – not “Earth (land only)” – and keep the default velocity of 20 km/sec. Repeat for rock and iron compositions. Tabulate the results and write a one-paragraph summary.
B: Ch. 8: 53-57
• Ch. 7-8;
• Astrobiology article Jupiter: Cosmic Jekyll and Hyde
WEEK 4 BELOW HERE:
Week 4
Oct. XXLife on Outer Solar System Moons?
Q: The moons of the outer planets are small and far from the sun, and on that basis they are poor candidates in the search for life. BUT… (complete the discussion, concentrating on Europa and Titan).
HW: Ch. 9: 48-50
• Ch. 9
WEEK 5 BELOW HERE:
Week 5
Oct. XXMultiple Dimensions of Habitability
Q: The concept of a “habitable zone” has evolved since it was most simply defined as any location where liquid water could exist. Discuss factors that have led to a loosening and a general rethinking of the original constraint, and how they affect our understanding of the possibilities.
HW: Ch. 10: 44, 51, 52
• Ch.10;
• Astrobiology articles Habitability: A Review;
WEEK 6 BELOW HERE:
Week 6
Oct. XX Extrasolar Planets: Discovery and Methods
Q: Distinguish among the various planet-detection methods. In particular, evaluate the selection effects of these methods: the characteristics of the planets and orbits they are best suited to discover, and those planets they will miss. Tabulate past and current exoplanet-finding missions, the technique they employ, and their current results. Summarize upcoming and proposed exoplanet-finding missions and any new technology they anticipate deploying.
HW: Planet Hunters Exercise
• Ch.11;
• Astrobiology article The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in Earth’s Solar Transit Zone
WEEK 7 BELOW HERE:
Week 7
Oct. XXExtrasolar Planet Parameter Space
Q: Consider the exoplanets for which orbit size, mass, radius, and therefore, density (and likely composition) are known, as well as their parent star’s mass and lifetime. Describe how these planets are classified; discuss how their orbital and physical properties allow us to study the architecture of planetary systems.
HW: Ch. 11: 46, 50, 54, 59
• Ch. 11;
• Astrobiology article Walking on Exoplanets: Is Star Wars Right?”
WEEK 8 BELOW HERE:
Week 8
Nov. XXThe Drake equation, revisited
Q: The iconic Drake Equation represents a distillation of factors governing the current number of technological civilizations in the Galaxy. In their paper, Frank and Sullivan describe an alternative approach that examines constraints on any technological species having evolved at all. Take the reader through their arguments and conclusions. Finally, if there are currently 100 technological civilizations in the Galaxy, with an (optimistic!) average lifetime of 105 years, use their formulation to calculate the total number of technological civilizations that have ever arisen in the Galaxy. Are you surprised by this number? Does it seem high or low; why?
HW: Ch. 12: 38, 39, 42, 47, 48, 50
• Ch. 12WEEK 9 BELOW HERE:
Week 9
Nov. XXThe Fermi Paradox
Q: Gray’s paper lays out the circumstances of Fermi’s original comment along with the real consequences of what he considers its erroneous propagation as the “Fermi Paradox.” Consider what you have learned about exoplanet statistics, habitability, the status of current SETI searches, and the requirements for interstellar travel, and take a stand on what we should conclude from the current lack of evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations.
HW: Ch. 13: 44, 45, 47, 51, 58
• Ch. 13;
• SETI.org on
the Fermi Paradox;
• Astrobiology articles:The Fermi Paradox is Neither Fermi’s Nor a Paradox;and Searching for Clever Life;WEEK 10 BELOW HERE:
Week 10
Dec. XXDiscovery!
Q: You have been appointed as the U.S. director of public information in the case of a positive SETI detection. Outline your actions in the days following the first detection of a simple, “Are you there?” signal from a distant star system (>1000 LY away, far enough that there is no chance of an impending visit). Include a list of meetings you would convene and write your first national press release (which you will read aloud).
HW: Ch. 4: 48, 53, 54; Ch. 6: 52-55
• Epilogue
• “The Impact of Discovering Life Beyond Earth” e-book: Ch. 3, 17, 18, 20 and any other that piques your interest!
• SETI.org pages: Protocols after Detection;
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