Download 1 Life in the Universe AST2037 Project: Alien Life Hand in typed

Life in the Universe
AST2037 Project: Alien Life
Hand in typed paper copy by end of class on
Thursday, March 31, 2016
This will be a 9-page written report (1 title/summary page and 8 pages for the main
report) in which you explore the possibility that life now exists, or did exist at one
time, on two different worlds. One of those worlds is in our own solar system, and the
other world is orbiting around some distant star. The quality of the report (and the
grade) will be determined by:
1. How well you demonstrate that you understand the basis for life on Earth, how we
define it, and what it needs to survive and propagate. You may also wish to speculate
about whether there are extreme environments on these planets that might harbor
life even if we might not initially expect to see any.
2. As a GenEd course (see the course Syllabus), the quality of the writing, per se, will
be an important consideration.
1. TWO WORLDS
World 1 (4 pages)
Select any planet, moon, or other celestial body in our solar system except Earth,
Mars, Europa, or the Sun.
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What would be the main challenges for life to exist there? Are these sufficient for
you to expect there to be no life there? 10
What conditions that exist there (or might exist there) that at least allow for the
possibility for there being life there? Be sure to consider all the criteria for life that
we have considered during the lectures and in the course textbook. 10
What kind of life might you expect? 10
What would you consider as “proof” that life exists now, or previously existed,
there? 10
What would you consider as “proof” that no life exists now, or ever existed,
there? 10
What are the main uncertainties that hinder our coming to a firm conclusion about
whether life has or has not ever existed there? 10
World 2 (4 pages)
Using a very powerful telescope high atop a mountain in Spain, you have discovered
a planet orbiting at a distance of 2 AU from the Sun-like star HR4796. The planet
seems to have an atmosphere, and because it is a transiting planet (one that passes
in front of the star during its orbit) you can determine some of the properties of that
atmosphere from the starlight that has passed through that atmosphere on its way to
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your telescope here on Earth. From that information, there is some evidence that the
planet has oxygen in the atmosphere.
As the discoverer of this planet, it is your privilege to name it. What name do you
want to give it?
What additional information regarding elements or molecules do you need in
order to increase your confidence that life may exist on the planet you have
discovered? Be as detailed as possible. 20
What information about the planet regarding elements, molecules, or some other
properties would indicate to you that it is very unlikely there is life on this planet?
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2. REPORT FORMAT
Page 1
• Your Name, Signature, Date (top, right corner of page)
• Summary (1/2 page) that indicates the Solar System celestial body you chose, and
your main conclusion about life there (2-3 sentences). In that Summary also
indicate the name and primary conclusions (2-3 sentences) for the planet you
discovered orbiting the star HR4796. 5
• List (1/2 page) of the key criteria that form the basis for our assessing if
something is alive or not (1-2 sentences for each one). 12
Pages 2-5 (World 1)
• What world did you choose and what are its key known properties? 5
• In a separate section (with a heading) for each one, address the questions
indicated above (Section 1) for World 1 60 points, see breakdown above.
• If you wish, add an extra section (entitled “Additional Comments”) with other
points you wish to make. Feel free to be wide open and imaginative. Up to 5
points.
Pages 6-9 (World 2)
• In a separate section (with a heading) for each one, address the questions
indicated above (Section 1) for World 2. 40 points, see breakdown above.
• If you wish, add an extra section (entitled “Additional Comments”) with other
points you wish to make. Feel free to be wide open and imaginative. Up to 5
points
• We do not know the age of this star. How might the actual age effect our
speculation about whether this planet harbors life? 10
Turn in paper copies of the typed report (9 pages) to me in class no
later than Thursday, March 31. Staple all pages together. 12-point
font, single spaced.
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