1. AY 80:Space-age Solar System
Instructor: Doug Lin
ISB 337, Tel: ,
Lectures: T/Th 8-9:45am Thimann 1
Office hours: Tue/Thur 2-3:15 pm, ISB 337
general info:
TA: Laura Langlang-Shula
ISB 111, Tel: ,
Office hours: Mon/Wed 3-4 pm, ISB 111
Sections: Wed/Fri 2-3pm, ISB 165
Text books: Into the final frontier, by Bernard McNamara
Life in the Universe, by J. Bennett, S. Shostak, B. Jakosky
Exams (Participation in both exams is necessary to pass):
Midterm: Feb 8, 8-9:15am, in class
Final: Mar 15, 12-3pm, in class
Homeworks: Hand out on Thursdays & return a week later
Homework 20%, Midterm 35%, Final 45%

2. Philosophy Main topics
Understanding the process of scientific methodology.
To learn some astronomy with regard to the roots of life, planets,
& stars.
To satisfy the general education and math requirements.
Main topics
Life in the Universe
Our physical environment
Nature of life
Evolution of the Earth
Space flights beyond the Earth
Scientitic unmanned missions
Life in the solar system
Search for other worlds

3. Lecture 1: an overview Life in the Universe
Are we alone?

4. Once habitable environment
Condition which harbors life
Liquid water!
Ocean below
the ice surface
on Europa
Salt deposit on Marsian rocks:
dried up lake.

5. Probability of life 1: worlds beyond imagination
100 billion stars

6. Vast range of distance scales
1 light year = speed of light x 1 yr = 9,460,000,000,000 km

7. Life cycle of stars From gas to stars to gas
Red giants
Planetary
nebula
Young stars
Main sequence
Interstellar medium
supernoave

8. Nucleo synthesis powers the Sun
The pp chain

9. Chemical abundance
Triple a
reaction
CNO cycle
Solar abundance

10. Heavy elements in massive stars
supernovae
Stellar winds
Radioactive isotope
production

11. Large structure of the universe cosmic expansion
Big bang & age of
the universe: 12 Gyr

12. Chemical abundance in stars heavy element contamination

13. Star and planet formation
Condensation of dust and formation of planets

14. Probability of life 2: Necessary conditions
Chemical elements
Sources of energy from stellar luminosity
Organic molecules in the interstellar medium
Life emerged on earth within 1 Gyr
Life survived major disasters
Life can be transported elsewhere

15. Quest: to search for the origin and proliferation of life in the Universe