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The Open University

Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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The new discipline of astrobiology that is, the science of searching for extraterrestrial life, is not only rapdly growing, but has also captured the public imagination. This free course, Icy bodies: Europa and elsewhere, examines the emergence of icy satellites of distant planets as potential sites of extraterrestrial life, looks at the potential for life on Jupiter's moon Europa, and speculates on the ethics of searching for life elsewhere in the solar system.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Icy satellites: introduction
  • 1 Icy satellites: introduction
  • 1.1 Satellite discoveries
  • 1.2 Satellite systems and their origins
  • 1.3 Unravelling the natures of the large satellites
  • 1.4 The discovery of tidal heating
  • 1.5 The Galileo mission
  • 2 Europa
  • 2 Europa
  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.2 Ice and salt
  • 2.3 Examining Europa's surface
  • 2.3.1 The general view
  • 2.3.2 The crater Pwyll
  • 2.3.3 Fracturing and motion of the ice shell
  • 2.3.4 More surface disruption
  • 2.4 How thick is Europa's ice?
  • 2.5 Heat and life
  • 2.6 How can we find out more about Europa?
  • 3 Other icy bodies as abodes of life?
  • 3 Other icy bodies as abodes of life?
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements

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