PHY 600 - Astrobiology Studies with Nearby Stars
PHY 600 - Astrobiology Studies with Nearby Stars
Meeting Time: Tuesday 7:00-9:30 p.m. (3 Credit Hours)A survey of the literature on science with nearby stars as outlined in the Proceedings of NASA's Nearby Stars (NStars) Workshop. Special emphasis will be placed on the study of properties germane to astrobiological interest. Focus on the habitability of circumstellar environments will highlight methods used to detect stellar, brown dwarf, and planetary companions, as well as circumstellar dust. These include techniques which measure the stellar reflex motion due to the gravitational influence of orbiting bodies, such as radial velocities and astrometry, as well as other indirect methods, such as eclipsing companions. Time permitting, methods of direct detection that are under development will also be studied, including space-based coronagraphy and interferometry. Additional topics will include the Field Mass Function, metallicity, and the determination of stellar ages on the main sequence.
Location: PS 218
Instructor: Dr. Dave Koerner
Office Address: Physical Sciences (bldg 19) 315
Office Hours: 1:00-2:30 TTh or by appointment
Office Phone: 928-523-4562
E-mail: David.Koerner@nau.edu
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Dave Koerner Last modified: Thu Apr 1 12:04:39 MST 2004