An Introduction to Astrobiology
Termin/Ort:
Beginn:
Vorlesung No:
Credits:
Contact:
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2+2-stündig Mo 14:00 c.t., Seminarraum H 537
Schellingstr. 4
Montag 2. Mai 2011
17212/17213, P4/5.0.29, P4.0.5
6 ECTS-Punkte (mit der Ergänzung P4S/5.0.30)
Markus Kissler-Patig
Email:
mkissler@eso.org
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THESE PAGES ARE OBSOLETE AND WERE MEANT FOR THE SUMMER SEMESTER 2011
Students : please access the Lecture pages (password protected)
The lecture pages contain the lecture slides, exercises, and all the supporting material.
Please contact me for the password information if needed
Background / Material
Formal links: Formal announcement - LMU Vorlesungsverzeichnis (pdf) - LMU/USM Lehrveranstaltungen
The lecture aims at introducing the broad field of Astrobiology. In the first part, it will cover pre-biotic chemistry and the origins of life, will look at Earth as a habitable planet and follow the development of its atmosphere and of primitive and more complex life on Earth. The lecture will also explore our Solar system and look at the possibilities of life on Mars, on Titan and icy bodies in the solar system. In the second part, it will review our current knowledge on exo-planets, their properties and their atmospheres. It will look into how to find life on exo-planets and will finish with some thoughts on extra-terrestrial intelligence.
The exercises will also be conducted as one or more short field trips.
Textbooks
The recommended textbook is:
- Planets and Life: The Emerging Science of Astrobiology - W.T.Sullivan & J.Baross - Cambridge University Press
Link to the book at Amazon.de (used ~30€, new ~60€)
Supporting books
- An Introduction to Astrobiology - I.Gilmour, M.A. Sephton - Cambridge University Press
- Complete Course in Astrobiology - G.Horneck & P.Rettberg - Wiley-VCH
- Astrochemistry: From Astronomy to Astrobiology - A.M.Shaw - Wiley
- Life Everywhere: the Maverick Science of Astrobiology - D.Darling - Basic Books
- Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology - C.A.Scharf - University Science Books
Lectures
| May 2, 2011 | Admin / History of Astrobiology / What is life? / Basics |
| May 9, 2011 | Origin of Life / Evolution of Life |
| May 16, 2011 | Limits of life / Extremophiles / Hydrothermal Vents |
| May 23, 2011 | Early Earth / Faint young sun / Earth climate history |
| May 30, 2011 | Habitable zones / The limits of climate / Planet atmospheres |
| June 6, 2011 | Giant and terrestrial planet / Solar System formation |
| June 13+20, 2011 | No Lecture |
| June 27, 2011 | Mars - Europa - Enceladus - Titan |
| July 4, 2011 | No Lecture |
| July 11, 2011 | Exoplanet detection and characterisation |
| July 18, 2011 | How to find life on Exoplanets |
| July 25, 2011 | Extraterrestrial intelligence |
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