AST 248
The Search for Life in the Universe
Fall 2014
"... Are you so stupid to think that just because
we're alone here, there's nobody else in this
room? Do you consider us so boring or
repulsive that of all the millions of beings,
imaginary or otherwise, who are prowling
around in space looking for a little company,
there is not one who might possibly enjoy
spending a moment with us? On the contrary
my dear -- my house is full of guests..."
Jean Giraudoux, The Madwoman of Chaillot
Administrative Details
• Professor: Frederick M. Walter
– ESS 459
– 632-8232
– Frederick.walter@stonybrook.edu
– Office hours: MWF 9-10, or by appointment
Please put AST248 in the subject line if e-mailing
• TA: Ryan Richards
• http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST248
Course Organization
• Two lectures weekly
– TuTh 1:00-2:20; Harriman 137
• Two in-class midterms (20% each)
– Thursday Sept 18
– Thursday Oct 23
• Weekly in-class quizzes (15%)
• Term Paper, due Tue Nov 25 (15%)
• Final exam Mon Dec 15, 5:30 PM (30%)
AST 248 : Syllabus
http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST248/syllabus.html
AST 248: Search for Life in the Universe
Syllabus
Fall 2014
Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays,1:00-2:20 PM Room: Harriman 137
Instructor: Prof. Fred Walter (ESS 459; 632-8232; frederick.walter at stonybrook.edu)
Office Hours: MWF 9-10AM, or by appointment
TA: Ryan Richards
Lecture Schedule
Week
Date
Topics
Reading
1
Aug 26
Aug 28
Introduction; The Drake Equation
You Live Here; What is Science?
BS 1, 3, Appendix C
2
Sep 4
N*
The Sun
The Influence of the Sun on Earth
BS 2, 3
3
Sep 9
Sep 11
N*
Why the Sun Shines
The Stars: Other Suns
BS 2, 3, 10.1, 11.1
4
Sep 16
fs
The Lives of the Stars
BS 2, 3, 10.1, 11.1
4
Sep 18
Midterm 1
BS 1,2,3,10.1,11.1
5
Sep 23 fp
Sep 25 N
h
Overview of the Solar System
The Habitable Zone
BS 3
6
Sep 30
Oct 2
fl
What is Life?
The Nature of Biological Evolution
The History of The World. Part I.
BS 5
7
Oct 7
Oct 9
fl
The History of The World. Part II.
Looking for Life in all the Wrong Places
BS 4,6,7
Barsoom
BS 8
8
1 of 2
Oct 14
Oct 16
fs
Nh
fl
8/25/14 11:55 AM
AST 248 : Syllabus
http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST248/syllabus.html
9
Oct 21
fl
9
Oct 23
10
Oct 28 fp
Oct 30 N
h
11
Nov 4
Nov 6
fl
fp
Europa and the Icy Moons
Titan
BS 9
Midterm 2
BS 1-9
Exoplanets
What makes a Planet Habitable?
BS 11
Rare Earth
The Galactic Context
BS 9, 10, 11
12
Nov 11
Nov 13
fl
SETI
BS 12
13
Nov 18
Nov 20
fi
Spaceflight
Contact
BS 12
Lifetimes of Civilizations
BS 12,13
Dec 2
Dec 4
The fermi paradox
BS 13, Epilogue
Dec 15
Final Exam
BS 1-13
14
15
fc
Nov 25 L/T
*** note: this plan is subject to change ***
Readings
Readings from the textbook should be done BEFORE the lecture. That way the lecture can be used to
clarify, and not just introduce, concepts.
BS refers to chapters in Bennett & Shostak's Life in the Universe.
Return to AST 248 main page
2 of 2
8/25/14 11:55 AM
Text
Bennett & Shostak, “Life in the Universe”,
3rd edition (required)
Earlier editions acceptable, but homework
problems are from this edition
Ward & Brownlee, “Rare Earth” (suggested)
Pickover, “Science of Aliens” (suggested)
Expectations
• This is a rigorous science course.
• We will do quantitative calculations
• You are strongly advised to attend
lectures
• You should expect to put in 6-9 hours
outside class, reading the material and
doing homework.
Scope of Astrobiology
• Astronomy (physics)
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geology and Planetology
• Information Theory
• Estimation
• Psychology/Sociology
Goals
• Understand why we are interested in
the question of life in the universe
• Understand the meaning of life, and
how it evolves
• Understand the requirements for
supporting life as we know it
• Understand what parts of this field are
science, and what are speculation
• Understand how to make estimations
Learning Objectives
A student in this course must be able to
– think critically about data, and
– synthesize disparate facts to reach a conclusion in almost any
area where the data can be quantified.
A student mastering this course will understand:
– – – – – – – the reasoning behind Drake's equation
how to apply estimation techniques in general
how the Sun and stars evolve
the concept of habitable zones
the changing Earth and the evolution of life thereupon
the concept of the habitable zone
the rationale behind and methods for searching for life elsewhere
in the Solar System, and elsewhere in the Galaxy
– the Fermi paradox