| ASTR 230 | Section 1 | Spring 2004 |
|---|
| Date | Topics | Reading | Assignment Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | Introductions | Syllabus | |
| Jan 23 | Size Scales & Our Galaxy | Ch 1 & Ch2 A | |
| Jan 26 | Cosmology and the Origin of Elements | Ch 2 A | |
| Jan 28 | The Early Galaxy and the First Stars | Ch 2 B & C | |
| Jan 30 | From Atoms to Molecules to Clouds | Ch 3 A & B | |
| Feb 2 | Star Formation | Ch 3 C | |
| Feb 4 | Origin of planets | Ch 3 D & E | |
| Feb 6 | Nature of Solar Systems | Ch 3 E | |
| Feb 9 | Habitable Planets | Ch 3 F | |
| Feb 11 | Planets of Life | Ch 4 A | |
| Feb 13 | Nature of Life | Ch 4 A | |
| Feb 16 |
Talk: "Cosmology and the Origin of the Universe" Talk: "Probability of the Formation of Silicon-Based Life: What does it Take?" |
Chris Kramer Sarah Goldrich |
|
| Feb 18 |
Talk: "Molecular Theory of the Origins of Life" Talk: "Extrasolar Planets" Talk: "Possibility of Life on Titan" |
Mike Somers Emily Beal Chris Hall |
|
| Feb 20 | Talk: "Life on Europa" Nucleic Acids |
CH 4 A |
Adam Quinn |
| Feb 23 | Guest Speaker: Brian Fields-- "Killer Supernovae" | ||
| Feb 25 |
Talk: "Panspermia" Talk: "Searching for the Building Blocks of Life in Interstellar Dust Clouds" |
Steven Andrews Mikey Nickolaou |
|
| Feb 27 |
Talk: "Crop Circles" Talk: "How Deep Sea Life Might Reflect Extraterrestrial Life" Talk: "The Truth and Scientific Basis of The X-Files" |
Brian Figenholtz Jon Huff Rachel Pidu |
|
| Mar 1 | Origin of Life | Ch 4 A & B | |
| Mar 3 | Origin of Life 2 | Ch 4 C & D | |
| Mar 5 | Alternatives | Ch 4 E, F, and G | |
| Mar 8 | Life in the Solar System | CH 5 A and B | |
| Mar 10 | Life in the Solar System 2 | Ch 5 C and D | |
| Mar 12 | Hour Exam | ||
| Mar 15 | Biological Evolution | Ch 6 A | |
| Mar 17 |
Talk: "Capacity for Interstellar Travel" Talk: "Biological Implications of Space Colonization" Talk: "Terraforming Mars" |
Brian Uphoff Matt Bender Derek Wright |
|
| Mar 19 |
Talk: "SETI Program" Talk: "Preparing and Launching a Manned Mission to Mars: A Start to Galactic Exploration" Talk: "It's the End of the World as We Know It...: Estimating L" |
Ted Uliassi James Heath Glen Veed |
|
| Mar 22-26 | Spring Break | ||
| Mar 29 | Origin of Intelligence | Ch 6 B | |
| Mar 31 | Cultural Evolution | Ch 7 A | |
| Apr 2 |
Talk: "Film Representation of Extraterrestrial Life: Implications for Life in Space" Talk: "Extraterrestrial Life in Television: Star Trek to Futurama" Talk: "Possibilities and Problems of interstellar Communication" |
Brian White Erik Dahlstrom Jenna Bishop |
|
| Apr 5 |
Talk: "Aliens: Violent Invaders or Explorers" Talk: "Evidence and Problems of Extraterrestrial Life Visitation on Earth" Talk: "Possible Representation of UFO's in Ancient Art" |
Elisandro Cabada Brian Lambert Matt Dillman |
|
| Apr 7 | Evolution of the World View | CH 7 B | |
| Apr 9 | Lifetime | CH 7 C | |
| Apr 12 |
Talk: "Marketing to Mars and Beyond" Talk: "Financial Feasibility of Space Exploration" Talk: "Alien Abductions: Fact or Fiction" |
Arthur Jones Mark Piergies Matt Clarkin |
|
| Apr 14 |
Talk: "Life Without a Planet: Orbiting Life?" Talk: "Automatic Self-Replicating Space Probes: Is ET Already Watching?" Talk: "Credibility of Abduction Stories Based on Profiles and Characteristics of the Victims" |
Gergana Slavova Brian Ahsell Abbie Coley |
|
| Apr 16 | Drake Equation-- Putting it all together Talk: "Artificial Intelligence: Will ET be a Robot?" Talk: "The Economics of Searching for ET" |
Danielle Peto Jack Wu |
|
| Apr 19 | Communication | Ch 8 A,B and Ch 9 A, B, C | |
| Apr 21 | Communication 2 | Ch 9 D, E | |
| Apr 23 | Future of Civilization | Ch 7 D, Ch 10 A | |
| Apr 26 | Travel | Ch 7 D, Ch 10 A | |
| Apr 28 | Travel 2 | Ch 10 A | |
| Apr 30 | Visitations | Ch 10 B | |
| May 3 | Contact | Ch 10 C | |
| May 5 | Review | Research Papers Due! | |
| 1:30-4:30 pm, Friday May 7 | FINAL EXAM | ||