Welcome to ESC 4181 Astrobiology   Are there aliens living on other planets studying the Earth right now?  This course will attempt to shed light on this fascinating question, as it surveys the universe for life.  First, we need to decide what constitutes "life." We will then survey our solar system for places where life could exist.  Is there life on another planet orbiting the Sun? Later, we will look beyond our solar system to other planetary systems, and consider may be good candidates for life and which are not. The course concludes by considering the chances for finding intelligent life around those distant stars, as well as the odds of their finding us.
Course syllabus Course schedule Grading practices Extra credit possibilities Homework assignments Monthly star map Tonight's Sky from NASA Late-breaking astronomical news   E-mail the instructor	Final exam bonus question Your answer to this question will be worth up to an extra 10 points to your test grade. No points will be deducted for an incorrect answer.  The Phoenix lander has found evidence of a chemical called perchlorate in two samples of Martian soil. Discuss the implications of this discovery on the search for life on Mars.
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