Basic Course Information
- Syllabus for Ast 2037 (pdf)
- E-Learning page for Ast 2037
- Class Meeting Times: Tuesdays 10:40-11:30am, 11:45am-12:35pm; Thursdays 10:40-11:30am
- Classroom: CSE E121 (building location)
- Instructor: Prof. Ford
- Office: 212 Bryant Space Science Center
- Office hours: Tuesdays 1:00pm-2:30pm or by appointment
- Text Book: The required textbook will be The Search for Life in the Universe by Donald Goldsmith & Tobias Owen (2001, 3rd edition; University Science Books; ISBN #1891389165). Additional readings will be provided in class and/or via the course web page. Both The Search for Life in the Universe and Life in the Universe (by Bennett & Shostak; 2007, 2nd edition; ISBN #0805347534) are to be held in reserve at the Marston Science Library. I do not recommend that students purchase the optional text by Bennett & Shostak. I do recommend that students make a visit to the library to read the relevant sections any time they are confused about a topic or would like additional information.
About this course
I am excited to teach such an interesting course. We'll investigate the potential for life beyond the Earth from a multidisciplinary perspective. Along the way, we'll learn about the nature of the universe, the history of the sun and Earth, exotic lifeforms on Earth, the geology of other planets and moons in our Solar System, and the search for planets around distant stars. I hope these age old questions will help students learn about the scientific approach to problem solving. The class will be aimed at the general UF undergraduate student body and not astronomy (or physics) majors.
Supplemental Readings
(links to versions avaliable online to UF students)
- Life in the Universe: Chapter 9: "Life on Jovian Moons"
- Astrobiology: Multi Disciplinary Approach: Sections 15.5 "Life Elsewhere II: Direct Detection " & 15.6 "Life Elsewhere II: Learning About Other Earths"
- Characterization of extrasolar terrestrial planets from diurnal photometric variability: Ford et al. (2001) Nature 412, 885-887.
- A search for life on Earth from the Galileo spacecraft: Sagan et al. (1993) Nature 365, 715-721.
- Vegetation's Red Edge: A Possible Spectroscopic Biosignature of Extraterrestrial Plants: Seager et al. (2005) Astrobiology 5, 372-390.
Further Information
- Astrobiology Magazine
- Astronomy Picture of the Day
- Astrobiology Primer
- Prof. Ford's talk about Enhancing the Characterization of Extrasolar Planets via Direct Detection with a Coronagraphic Terrestrial Planet Finder
- Help using UF's E-Learng System (pdf)
- E-Learning System at UF
- Student introduction to E-Learning (including link to demos)
- Student Honor Code
Last updated: November 15, 2007
Created: August 1, 2007
