College Seminar (101-7-2)

Topic

The Astrophysics of Alien Worlds

Instructors

Frederic Rasio
847/491-7904
Technological Institute (2145 Sheridan Road), Room F-213, Evanston

Meeting Info

Dearborn Observatory 23: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

For many centuries scientists and philosophers speculated about the existence of other worlds—planets orbiting other stars, some perhaps harboring life, or even entire alien civilizations. It is only in the last 30 years that astronomers have been detecting exoplanets, and astrophysicists are now modeling these worlds guided by rich data sets, some suggesting the possibility of alien life. In particular the James Webb Space Telescope has opened an exciting new epoch of exploration, revealing for the first time the detailed atmospheric chemistry of exoplanets and the physical conditions on the surfaces of alien earths. This seminar will cover the brief history of this field and recent developments, through (nontechnical) readings and class discussions.

Class Materials (Required)

Her Space, Her Time by Shohini Ghose (ISBN-13 978-0262048316)

Class Attributes

WCAS College Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required