Astronomy 2021A/B Lecture 7: Chapter 7 Notes

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 2021A/B
• Professor: Martin Zinke- Allmang

Document Summary

Chapter 7 searching for life in our solar system. To find where life can exist, we need to know what life needs: one requirement is naturally occurring (cid:272)he(cid:373)i(cid:272)al ele(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts. E(cid:448)e(cid:396)y sta(cid:396) syste(cid:373) (cid:449)e"(cid:448)e studied has at least so(cid:373)e a(cid:373)ou(cid:374)t of all the ele(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts used (cid:271)y life, si(cid:374)(cid:272)e the ele(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts a(cid:396)e (cid:862)sta(cid:396) stuff(cid:863). If there is photosynthetic life in a different world, it has to be larger (to get more sunlight), more efficient at collecting solar energy or slower in its metabolism and reproduction. Chemical energy sources also place a constraint on life basically means that the world needs an atmosphere or a surface or subsurface liquid medium (same as above!) Li(cid:395)uid (cid:449)ate(cid:396) does ha(cid:448)e so(cid:373)e huge (cid:396)oles to play fo(cid:396) life, (cid:271)ut let"s see if its role can be played by something else. It remains liquid for a wider and higher range of temperatures.