Astrobiology p. 2


	ACTIVITIES on Extrasolar Planets and Habitable Regions


	*Looking for Proplyds* Students will download NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of star-forming regions in nebulae and look for evidence of planetary systems forming beyond our own solar system. Extrasolar Planets Explore what extrasolar planets are and how they are detected. Open the virtual laboratory frameset from the link at the bottom of this page. From this frameset, choose "Labs for Semester 1 " and then "Lab 3: Extrasolar Planets".


	*Detect the Jupiter-like Planet...* How are new planets discovered? Do this activity and summarize your findings. Read the module, Searching for Extrasolar Planets, before you begin.

The Ecospheres of Stars
The purpose of this lab is to determine the suitability of different types of stars for harboring Earth-like planets.

Exploration of a New Planetary System
In this exercise, you will be using your knowledge of physics, chemistry, geology, and biology to estimate the likelihood of life on several different hypothetical planets around a theoretical star. Then, you will be asked to determine the probability of life evolving on each of the newly found worlds in either the past, present, or future.


			*Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence* You will learn more about the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project, and decipher rudimentary, extraterrestrial messages. You will also compose a reply to communicate with an extraterrestrial intelligence (CETI).