What is Astrochemistry? Course Introduction

A FEW ITEMS BEFORE WE BEGINCHEM/EARTH SCI 4059/5059

Course Goal• The goal of this course is to expose you, the

student, to the interdisciplinary field that is Astrochemistry.

• You can expect to see topics that include, but are not limited to– Astronomy– Biology– Chemistry– Earth and Planetary Science– Physics

Disclaimer

• While this course is not a math course, many of the topics included are best described using mathematical formulas.– To that end, a few of the lesson will have

significant mathematical portions. – I have attempted to keep most of the math to an

algebra-based level, but some knowledge of logarithms and exponentials is also required.

Reference Material

• In order to keep course costs low, there is no required book for this course.

• For those wishing to learn more, I have provided a list of suggested references in a separate document

Note to Educators• I have attempted to create a course that current

and future educators can pull information from for their classes.

• Where appropriate, this includes details on how to build and carry out various classroom demonstrations.

• I am not liable for any complications that may arise when recreating demonstrations, but urge anyone attempting to recreate the demonstrations seen in this course to review the safety materials with each demonstration.

Note to Educators (cont.)

• While this course is my intellectual property, all non-copyrighted material may be downloaded and adapted for individual classroom and non-profit use unless noted otherwise.

• Rights for the use of copyrighted material should be obtained from the original creators.

WHAT IS ASTROCHEMISTRY?CHEM/EARTH SCI 4059/5059

Image Credit: NASA/jpi-caltech/t.pyle

“Hey. Do you mind if I tell you a story? One you might not have heard. All the elements in your body were forged many many millions of years ago in the heart of a faraway star that exploded and died. That explosion scattered those elements across the desolations of deep space. After so, so many millions of years, these elements came together to form new stars and new planets. And on and on it went. The elements came together and burst apart, forming shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings. Until, eventually, they came together to make you. You are unique in the universe.” -Doctor Who

LET’S START WITH SOME DEFINITIONS

PhysicsThe science of

matter and energy and of interactions between the two

*This is a Venn Diagram

Physics

CosmologyThe science of the origin and development

of the universe

Physics

CosmologyAstronomythe study

of celestial objectsAstronomy

PhysicsChemistry

The science of the

composition, structure,

properties, and reactions

of matter.

Cosmology

Astronomy

Chemistry

PhysicsBiology

The science of life and of

living organisms

Cosmology

Astronomy

ChemistryBiology

PhysicsBiochemistry

study of chemical processes within and relating to,

living organisms

Cosmology

Astronomy

ChemistryBiology

Biochemistry

PhysicsAstrophysicsconcerned with the physical

nature of stars and

other celestial bodies

Cosmology

Astronomy

ChemistryBiology

Biochemistry

Astrophysics

PhysicsAstrochemistrythe study of the abundance and

reactions of chemical

elements and molecules in the universe

Cosmology

Astronomy

Chemistry

Astrochemistry

BiologyBiochem

istry

Astrophysics

Physics

Astrobiologyorigin,

evolution, distribution, and future of

life in the universe

Cosmology

Astronomy

Chemistry

Astrochemistry

Biology

Astrobiology

Biochemistry

Astrophysics

Physics

origin, reactions and distribution of

chemical elements and

molecules important for

life “as we know it” and “as we don’t

know it” in the universe

Cosmology

Astronomy

Chemistry

Astrochemistry

Biology

Astrobiochemistry

Astrobiology

Biochemistry

Astrobio-

chemistry

Astrophysics

Clarification• Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, and Astrobiochemistry are

often used interchangeably, so be aware of this when going through the material in the course.

• All these fields are “applied” versions of Astrophysics

Image Credit: www.astrochem.org

What does astrochemistry cover?

What does astrochemistry cover?Wh

en

In the beginning there was….

Nothing?

Around 13.7 billion years

ago…

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

For approximately 380 to 400 thousand years,

the universe expanded, at some

points faster then the speed of light. During this Inflation period,

the universe was dominated by

subatomic particles.

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

Image credit: CERN

By ~400,000 years the universe had sufficiently cooled that the hydrogen and helium nuclei could trap and hold on to electrons, creating the first atoms.

At this time light decouples from matter making the universe transparent.

The afterglow of this event is observed today as the Cosmic Microwave Background and marks the beginning of astrochemistry

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

Credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team

For hundreds of millions of years, the universe was dark as hydrogen and the other elements were pulled together by gravity.

When sufficient mass had accumulated, the first stars shown with the ignition of stellar fusion.

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

Credit: C.R. O'Dell/Rice University; NASA

Many of these early stars exploded as super nova, spreading the heavier elements throughout the universe as interstellar dust clouds and nebula that eventually formed new stars and eventually planets.

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

Image credit: NASA/HST/CXC/ASU/J. Hester et al.

The pull of gravity eventually brought the stars together into galaxies

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA

Around 5 billion years ago, the fusion reactor of our sun was lit and our solar system was formed.

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

NASA, Voyager 1

Image credit: Rhys Taylor, Cardiff University

Eventually, life began on Earth and developed to the point that it could look out into the universe and ask the big questions.

“Who am I?”“Why am I here?”“Is there life out there?”“What’s for lunch?”

In this course, we will examine astrochemistry from the birth of atoms to present day (the past 13.4 billion years). In our exploration we will visit the disciplines of astrophysics,

astrobiology, and planetary science.

Physics/Astrophysics (13.7 billion years)

Astrochemistry (13.4 billion years)

Astrobiology (5? billion years)Image credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team

Structure of the Course• Unit 1: Let there be light– Exploring the infant universe from the first atoms, to

the fusion furnaces of stars. • Unit 2: Into the Void– Exploring the chemistry between the stars, super

cold, super slow, but still facinating• Unit 3: Bigger, Better, Older– A look at planet formation and detecting planets

around other stars• Unit 4: The Search for Terra Firma – Chemistry and astrobiology in our own solar system.

Upcoming course highlights

• In addition to traditional coursework– you will learn how to setup and do astrochemistry

demonstrations using simple, inexpensive materials

– Live guest e-lectures from NASA scientists Thursdays from 3-4 pm on adobe connect.

Hold on tight

This is going to be a whirlwind adventure. I may or may not change the way you think about the universe, but this class is guaranteed to be a unique trip through space and time.

Image credit: BBC