A planetary astronomer at CU’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Larry Esposito discovered Saturn’s fourth ring and has continued his investigations of Saturn’s rings with the Cassini spaceship’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph.

Course: Extraterrestrial Life (ASTR/GEOL 3300)

Department: Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences and Geology

Prerequisite: One year of any college-level science class

Professor: Larry Esposito

Course description: An introduction to life in the universe, including scientific, technical, philosophical and social aspects. Topics include conditions necessary for life to exist on Earth and other planetary bodies. Students will discuss NASA’s program to seek life in space.

Reading list: Iain Gilmour’s An Introduction to Astrobiology (Cambridge University Press)

Esposito says: “I like to teach this class because it’s so broad — chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy! All these areas apply when we consider the possibilities for life. For the student, it draws a number of diverse areas together in the intellectual exercise of the search for life.”

Learn more at http://lasp.colorado.edu/~espoclass/ASTR_3300_2009.htm