Ebook: Habitability of Other Planets and Satellites

Is the Earth the right model and the only universal key to understand habitability, the origin and maintenance of life? Are we able to detect life elsewhere in the universe by the existing techniques and by the upcoming space missions? This book tries to give answers by focusing on environmental properties, which are playing a major role in influencing planetary surfaces or the interior of planets and satellites. The book gives insights into the nature of planets or satellites and their potential to harbor life. Different scientific disciplines are searching for the clues to classify planetary bodies as a habitable object and what kind of instruments and what kind of space exploration missions are necessary to detect life. Results from model calculations, field studies and from laboratory studies in planetary simulation facilities will help to elucidate if some of the planets and satellites in our solar system as well as in extra-solar systems are potentially habitable for life.

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Is Earth the right model and therefore our Earth-centric view the only universal key to understand habitability, the origin and maintenance of life? This book tries to give answers on this question. It gives insights into the nature of planets and their potential to harbor life as well as the role of life itself as an engine to increase the habitability of planetsand satellites. Knowledge of different disciplines in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Planetology and Physics are the driving force for the discussion what might be the clues to classify a planetary body as a habitable object. The role of the atmosphere, solar radiation, magnetism, tectonics, mineral composition, liquid water availability and the interactions with life are in the focus of the general discussion. Earth serves as the reference system to get an approximation of the factors which might be important for classification of a celestial body as a habitable object. Results from field studies and those obtained from laboratory studies in planetary simulation facilities will help to elucidate if some of the planets and satellites in our solar system are potentially habitable for terrestrial life forms. The discussion is also enlarged in particular to exo-planets and their potential to be habitable. Further, recent technologies are presented in this book which might be suitable for remote or insitu identification of habitable environments and life as we know it. Instrumentation, detection devices, space projects and space mission designs to search for habitable niches and life is part of this work and gives insights into the challenges we might confront if we pursue the main task to detect life. The initial step of these exploration endeavors might be to discover first habitable environments and then to look after life forms with life detecting instrumentation in the discovered habitable niches.

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Is Earth the right model and therefore our Earth-centric view the only universal key to understand habitability, the origin and maintenance of life? This book tries to give answers on this question. It gives insights into the nature of planets and their potential to harbor life as well as the role of life itself as an engine to increase the habitability of planetsand satellites. Knowledge of different disciplines in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Planetology and Physics are the driving force for the discussion what might be the clues to classify a planetary body as a habitable object. The role of the atmosphere, solar radiation, magnetism, tectonics, mineral composition, liquid water availability and the interactions with life are in the focus of the general discussion. Earth serves as the reference system to get an approximation of the factors which might be important for classification of a celestial body as a habitable object. Results from field studies and those obtained from laboratory studies in planetary simulation facilities will help to elucidate if some of the planets and satellites in our solar system are potentially habitable for terrestrial life forms. The discussion is also enlarged in particular to exo-planets and their potential to be habitable. Further, recent technologies are presented in this book which might be suitable for remote or insitu identification of habitable environments and life as we know it. Instrumentation, detection devices, space projects and space mission designs to search for habitable niches and life is part of this work and gives insights into the challenges we might confront if we pursue the main task to detect life. The initial step of these exploration endeavors might be to discover first habitable environments and then to look after life forms with life detecting instrumentation in the discovered habitable niches.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Habitable Zone: Basic Concepts....Pages 3-12
Exoplanets: Criteria for their Habitability and Possible Biospheres....Pages 13-29
The Habitable Zone and the Generalized Greenhouse Effect....Pages 31-46
The Influence of UV Radiation on Exoplanets’ Habitability....Pages 47-68
Factors of Planetary Habitability....Pages 69-88
Bio-Relevant Microscopic Liquid Subsurface Water in Planetary Surfaces?....Pages 89-112
Front Matter....Pages 113-113
Organic Molecules in Lunar Ice: A Window to the Early Evolution of Life on Earth....Pages 115-125
Front Matter....Pages 127-127
Experimental Simulations of Possible Origins of Life: Conceptual and Practical Issues....Pages 129-144
Simulation and Measurement of Extraterrestrial Conditions for Experiments on Habitability with Respect to Mars....Pages 145-162
The Role of Terrestrial Analogs in the Exploration of the Habitability of Martian Evaporitic Environments....Pages 163-180
Front Matter....Pages 181-181
Microbial Scale Habitability on Mars....Pages 183-202
Interior and Surface Dynamics of Terrestrial Bodies and their Implications for the Habitability....Pages 203-233
Exoplanets and Habitability....Pages 235-249
Front Matter....Pages 251-251
Extremophiles on Alien Worlds: What Types of Organismic Adaptations are Feasible on Other Planetary Bodies....Pages 253-265
Brown Dwarfs and Black Smokers: The Potential for Photosynthesis Using Radiation from Low-Temperature Black Bodies....Pages 267-284
Front Matter....Pages 285-285
Detection of Habitable Planets and the Search for Life....Pages 287-310
Raman Spectral Signatures in the Biogeological Record: An Astrobiological Challenge....Pages 311-330
Application of Raman Spectroscopy as In Situ Technology for the Search for Life....Pages 331-345
Front Matter....Pages 347-347
Habitability on Kepler Worlds: Are Moons Relevant?....Pages 349-366
Clean In Situ Subsurface Exploration of Icy Environments in the Solar System....Pages 367-397
Back Matter....Pages 413-419
Theoretically Possible Habitable Worlds: But Will We Get Soon Answers by Observations?....Pages 401-411