Habitability Earth to Universe.ppt

Habitability: Earth to Universe But could we recognize life? Plan of Presentation What ‘Our Kind’ of life needs to form and thrive Types of Planets? Our Solar System Other Planetary Systems Other Stars Galaxies The Universe Requirements for ‘Our Kind’ of Life Right Elements: ?SPONCH! Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus Trace elements, like iron (Fe) magnesium (Mg) Stable Environment Right Temperature Liquid Solvent (Water) Energy Source Light Chemicals Element Distribution (?SPONCH!) in the Solar System Stable Planetary Environment Planets have near-circular orbits No huge ellipses with hot and cold times Sun is stable Sunspot cycle is really minor Not many asteroids or comets Not very many Dinosaur-killers! Few nearby stars Near pass would disrupt planet orbits. Explosion would fill solar system with lethal radiation. Temperature in a solar system Heat mostly from star, decreases away from it. Yellow zone = liquid water at planet’s surface. Why Liquid? Why Water? Why Liquid? Allows easy movement of molecules to/from reactions Allows creation of complex molecules Why Water? H2O is abundant in solar system, and is versatile. Liquid ammonia (NH3) and hydrocarbons (methane, ethane) are possible. Where in the Solar System could we find liquid water? Earth: Certainly. Mars: Certainly in the past, maybe now Europa: Liquid water ocean (blue) under ice; rocky mantle, metal core. Venus: ? Possibly, in its distant past. Ceres: Dwarf Planet, Ex-asteroid Avg. diameter 942 km Equatorial - 975 km Polar - 909 km Density = 2.07 gm/cm3 - mix rock + water Polar flattening suggests rotating ‘fluid’ glob (ice or water shell over rock. Maybe liquid water, depending on how much internal heat from radioactivity. Enceladus: Moon of Saturn, with water vapor plumes Plumes erupting from Enceladus. Known to be water vapor by its temperature, just about 0°C Titan - Another solvent! Dense atmosphere, thick cloud cover. Orange color is hydrocarbon