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Class 31: Astrobiology

Class 31: Astrobiology. Class 31: Astrobiology. Class Updates • Homework #5 due Wed. 4/30 • Final Review Wed. 4/30 - study guide, practice exam • Final Exam: Mon. May 5th @ 10am. Astrobiology. 1.7. Billion years ago. 3.75. 4.5. Billion years ago. Billion years ago.

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Class 31: Astrobiology

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  1. Class 31: Astrobiology

  2. Class 31: Astrobiology Class Updates • Homework #5 due Wed. 4/30 • Final Review Wed. 4/30 - study guide, practice exam • Final Exam: Mon. May 5th @ 10am

  3. Astrobiology

  4. 1.7 Billion years ago 3.75 4.5 Billion years ago Billion years ago 600 500 225 Million years ago Million years ago Million years ago Life’s Sequence on Earth

  5. Life As We Know It

  6. Conditions for Life (I) Liquid water

  7. Conditions for Life (II) Carbon

  8. Conditions for Life (III) Energy

  9. Conditions for Life (IV) Stable Environment

  10. Life on Mercury? Moon?

  11. Life on Venus? Earth? Mars?

  12. Life on the Gas Giants?

  13. Life on Europa?

  14. Life on Titan?

  15. Life on Mars?

  16. The Habitable Zone

  17. Searching for Life: Biomarkers

  18. The Drake Equation Nc = N* x fp x nLZ x fL x fI x Fs = # of communicative civilization in galaxy Pessimistic Estimate Optimistic Estimate N*= # stars in galaxy 2x1011 2x1011 fp = fraction of stars w/planets 0.01 0.5 nLZ = number of planets in habitable zone 0.01 1 fL = fraction of planets where life could begin 0.01 1 fI = fraction of life forms that evolve to intelligence 0.01 1 Fs = fraction of star’s life where life communicates 10-8 10-4 Nc = 2x10-5 10x106 • Pessimist: we are alone • Optimist: many civilizations

  19. (SETI) SETI Institute Aricebo Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

  20. • Project Phoenix: primary search, nonprofit, $20M • SERENDIP: piggyback search of ordinary astronomy data • seti@home: SETI Projects Jill Tarter - 2.3 million users, - 1000 yrs computer time each day

  21. Effelsberg Big Ear Haystack Square Kilometer Array Arecibo SETI Telescopes

  22. The hmmmm….. Factor

  23. Life on Other Planets?

  24. Challenge Question • Suppose we find an extra solar planet whose distance from its star indicates that it could have liquid water and an energy source. What other conditions must be met for it to have the potential for life? • a. A stable surface and a hydrogen atmosphere • b. Plate tectonics and biogenic elements • c. Carbon and a stable surface • d. Plate tectonics and an oxygen atmosphere • e. Plate tectonics and a magnetic field

  25. Challenge Question Do you think life might exist beyond Earth? If there is life, will it be discovered in our lifetime? If life is discovered, do you think it could be intelligent?

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