S283 Planetary Science & the Search For Life
Below is the summary and course content from the OU's web site, the rest can be found here. My experiences about the course can be found here.	Level 2 30 points Length: 9 months
Summary This course tackles some fundamental questions about our solar system. How did the solar system form and how has it evolved? Why aren’t all the planets like Earth? How and why did life arise on Earth? Has life arisen elsewhere in the solar system or beyond – could it be intelligent? We look at the exploration of the solar system by spacecraft; planetary processes such as volcanism and impacts; the structure of planets and their atmospheres; asteroids, comets and meteorites. You will use web-based resources and electronic conferencing extensively. Although the course is intended for a wide range of people, a background in science is required. Course Content This course tackles some fundamental questions about our solar system. How did the solar system form and how has it evolved? Why aren't all the planets like Earth? How and why did life arise on Earth? Has life arisen elsewhere in the solar system or beyond, and could it be intelligent? We look at the exploration of the solar system by spacecraft; planetary processes such as volcanism and impacts; the structure of planets and their atmospheres; asteroids, comets and meteorites. The course comprises two modules, each consisting of a full-colour book. DVD and web-based material support and extend the modules and are an integral part of the course. The Solar System We begin with a look at our own solar system, examining the layout of the planets and their basic physical properties. You will learn about the structure of the solar system and about the distinctive differences between solar system bodies, from asteroids and comets to the giant gas planets such as Jupiter and Saturn. You will also see how planetary processes such as impact cratering and volcanism have shaped the surfaces of many bodies in the solar system, and explore the processes at work in the atmospheres of both small and giant planets. Throughout this module, you will see how our knowledge has been added to from a wide range of space missions. A range of activities support this module, including extensive computer and web-based activities. For example, you will retrieve and analyse data from sources on the World Wide Web, and use computer spreadsheets to investigate some of the theoretical ideas that are presented in the course. The web also provides a source of up-to-date information about planetary geology, space missions and experiments. Astrobiology The Earth, given our present state of knowledge, is unique in that it sustains a diverse range of life. But how do we build a habitable planet and what are the chances of other Earth-like planets elsewhere in the Universe? These are the exciting topics of a new and rapidly changing field of planetary science known as astrobiology. We begin this module with a look at how life might have arisen on Earth, where the basic building blocks for life came from and how widespread these might be in the Universe. You will learn about other bodies in our own solar system that may have had the right conditions for life, and examine how we might go about deciding if there is, or has ever been, life elsewhere in the solar system. Moving on from our own solar system, we will examine the evidence for planets around other stars and consider whether any of these may be capable of sustaining life. Finally, we will examine the possibility of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the Universe and look at humankind’s attempts to search for it.
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