SAO Project 29 Information
An Earth-like moon orbiting a Jupiter-like planet in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star. Such worlds could be common. Artwork copyright Lynette Cook.
Project #29. Search for Other Worlds
Science fiction 20 years ago, reality today. Investigate one of the terms of the Drake Equation for which astronomers have actually made tangible progress towards solving - the fraction of stars with planets. How exactly do astronomers search for and detect planets around other stars? To achieve high marks for this project you will need to outline the basic observational techniques currently employed by such extra-solar planet hunters, and demonstrate an appreciation for the strengths (and just as important, the weaknesses) of these techniques. You should also discuss the properties of the planetary systems found to date and how they relate to our previous understanding based on only one known system. Finally, an assessment of the near- and long-term prospects for finding terrestrial-like planets should be included.Below I list some web sites and reference books to get you started. The books are not to be regarded as "must buy". They are not required reading for each project, because there is no required reading! I list well known books that I hope can be found in libraries.
I am happy to comment on a summary of what you intend to do (in fact please send me a summary as soon as possible so I know you are on track).
Caution! The Internet
Internet search engines are listed below the Projects. A word of warning/caution to users of Internet/Web resources. Just because information is on a Web page, doesn't mean that it is correct. After a while you will be able to identify the more reputable sites (eg. most .edu, .ac sites). Check the credentials of the author of the site. Has the web site been updated lately? Does it agree with other (non-Internet) information?The truth is out there, but so is a lot of rubbish!
Some good links, BUT, always be wary of any internet site that ends with .com !!
California & Carnegie Planet Search
Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia
Book: Dorminey, B., "Distant Wanderers: The Search for Planets Beyond the Solar System", 2001
Book: Barrow J.D. & Tipler F.J., "The Anthropic Cosmological Principle," 1996
Book: Lemonick, M., "Other Worlds: The Search for Life in the Universe", 1999
Astronomy Resources
Resource Lists * Astronomical Resources on the World Wide Web: A Guide to Surfing
Internet Search Engines
Google * HotBot * MetaCrawler
General References
CNN Space * Astronomy * Sky and Telescope * Scientific American * Mercury * New Scientist * New Scientist Astronomy Links
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Swinburne Astronomy Online
Last updated: 11-Sept.-2003