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Exoplanets and Aliens


The existence of worlds beyond our Solar System and alien civilizations has long been the realm of science fiction. We now know of thousands of planets orbiting other stars in our Milky Way galaxy, some of them tantalizingly similar to the Earth. In this course we will explore the ways that these discoveries have been made, and examine the characteristics of some of the newly found exoplanets. Whether any of these planets could harbor life forms is an open question. We will discuss the ongoing searches for alien life, consider the new technologies that are being brought to bear on the question, and assess the possibility that we are not alone in the universe. 
Instructor Theodore (Ted) Williams is Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University and former Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory. He has a physics B.S. degree from Purdue University and astronomy Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology. Ted spent most of his career at Rutgers, where he pursued observational studies of galaxies and developed astronomical instrumentation, while teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in physics and astronomy. He has spent innumerable nights at telescopes around the world, including observatories in California, Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii, as well as Chile, China, and South Africa, and an orbiting facility on the Space Shuttle (Ted stayed firmly on the ground). He has taught a number of astronomy courses for Coastal Senior College.
This course can be taken either in-person or on-line via Zoom - choose when you register.
In-person students must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to register for this course.
In-person students will follow the current mask policy of the course site.

 

 If you want to register and are not yet a member, Click here for New Member Signup

When:
Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 10:00 AM until Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 12:00 PM
Where:
Zoom: link will be sent by email before first class
In-person: St. Andrews Church
11 Glidden St
Newcastle, ME  
Additional Info:
Event Contact(s):
Ted Williams
Instructor
Category:
Fall 2022
Registration is required
Payment In Full In Advance Only
You must be an active CSC member to register for this course.
Cancellation Policy:
A member may cancel a course registration up to 3 days prior to the start of class and will receive a course credit that can be used for a future registration. No refunds will be given.
$35.00
$35.00