Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology

Front Cover
University Science Books, 2009 - Science - 470 pages
2 Reviews
This book offers an advanced introduction to the increasingly robust fields of extrasolar planets and astrobiology. No other text currently available applies this level of mathematics and physics, while also providing an extensive grounding in key issues of chemistry, biology, and geophysics.
 

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User Review  - AlanWPowers - LibraryThing

Scharf provides a clear and stunning immersion into the world of--well, really, literally, the WORLDS of--exoplanets and exosuns. (I haven't seen this one used, but why not--we have "exomoons.") So ... Read full review

Selected pages

Contents

Introduction Background
1
Introduction Background and Preview
10
Problems
28
Protostellar Collapse and Star Formation
31
References and Suggested Reading
73
Planet Formation
77
Extrasolar Planets
129
References
190
Planetary Radiation Comparative Planetology
243
References
296
Cosmochemistry Dust and Prebiotic Molecules
299
Comets Meteorites and Protoplanetary Disk
333
References
360
Habitable Zones
365
References
419
Alternate Habitable Zones and Beyond
423

a Brief History and its Boundaries
195
References
239
ReferencesSuggested Reading
453
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

accretion albedo angular momentum approximately archaea assume asteroid astrobiology Astrophysical atoms bodies carbon cell characteristics chemical chemistry circumstellar collapse collision comets complex composition consider core curve daisies Daisyworld density detected discuss dust grains dynamical Earth effect emission energy environment Equation equilibrium evolution example exoplanets Figure flux Galactic Galaxy gas giants giant planets global gravitational habitable zone heating hot Jupiters hydrogen impact impact events infrared interstellar interstellar medium lens light liquid water luminosity Main Sequence mass material mechanisms meteorites migration molecular clouds molecules moon objects observed oceans optical orbital period organisms outer PAHs parent star particles phase photons physical planet formation planetary embryo planetesimals plotted potential pressure prokaryotic proto-planet proto-planetary disk proto-star proto-stellar radial velocity radiation radius relative rotation solar system solid species star formation stellar structure supernova surface telescope temperature terrestrial planet terrestrial-type thermal tidal timescales transit typical wavelength worlds

About the author (2009)

CALEB A. SCHARF was born and educated in England. He received his B.Sc. in Physics from Durham University, UK, and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge, UK. Following postdoctoral work in X-ray astronomy and observational cosmology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, USA, he has been a research scientist at Columbia University, New York, USA. He is currently Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Astrobiology Center, USA. His research interests include the study of exoplanets, exomoons, and the nature of environments suitable for life.

Bibliographic information

QR code for Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology
TitleExtrasolar Planets and Astrobiology
AuthorCaleb A. Scharf
Editionillustrated
PublisherUniversity Science Books, 2009
ISBN1891389556, 9781891389559
Length470 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Science / Astronomy
Science / Life Sciences / Biology
Science / Physics / Astrophysics
  
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