Research Catalog

Title

Life beyond Earth : the search for habitable worlds in the Universe / Athena Coustenis and Thérèse Encrenaz.

Author

Coustenis, Athena.

Publication

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2013.

Supplementary Content

Cover image

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Encrenaz, Thérèse, 1946-

Description

x, 287 pages : illustrations (some color); 24 cm

Summary

"What is life and where can it exist? What searches are being made to identify conditions for life on other worlds? If extraterrestrial inhabited worlds are found, how can we explore them? In this book, two leading astrophysicists provide an engaging account of where we stand in our quest for habitable environments, in the Solar System and beyond. Starting from basic concepts, the narrative builds scientifically, including more in-depth material as boxed additions to the main text. The authors recount fascinating recent discoveries from space missions and observations using ground-based telescopes, of possible life-related artefacts in Martian meteorites, extrasolar planets, and subsurface oceans on Europa, Titan and Enceladus. They also provide a forward look to exciting future missions: including the return to Venus, Mars and the Moon; further explorations of Pluto and Jupiter's icy moons, and placing giant planet-seeking telescopes in orbit beyond Jupiter, showing how we approach the question of finding out whether the life that teems on our own planet is unique. This is an exciting, informative read for anyone interested in the search for habitable and inhabited planets, and an excellent primer for students in astrobiology, habitability, planetary science and astronomy"--

Subjects

• Life on other planets
• Exploration of outer space
• Habitable planets
• Outer space > Exploration
• Exobiology

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-279) and index.

Contents

Introduction -- What is life and where can it exist? -- Terrestrial planets and their diverging evolutions -- Searching for habitable sites in the outer Solar System -- A revolution in astronomy : the exploration of extrasolar planets -- Extraterrestrial inhabited sites in the future.

Call Number

JFE 17-1700

ISBN

• 9781107026179
• 1107026172

LCCN

2013033843

OCLC

838792056

Author

Coustenis, Athena.

Title

Life beyond Earth : the search for habitable worlds in the Universe / Athena Coustenis and Thérèse Encrenaz.

Publisher

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2013.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-279) and index.

Local Note

ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SEARCH FOR EXTRA- TERRESTRIAL LIFE, IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM & BEYOND.

Connect to:

Cover image

Added Author

Encrenaz, Thérèse, 1946-

Research Call Number

JFE 17-1700