Astrochemistry

Catalog description

This course will provide a comprehensive, yet thorough overview of astrochemistry, focused on the formation, interaction and destruction of the chemical elements, molecules and other species found in outer space. The disciplinary focus of the lecture component is at the intersection of astronomy and chemistry. The course content addresses topics of both astrochemistry and cosmochemistry, and the study of elements and other chemical species on the Solar System scale. This course will explore the interactions between interstellar and circumstellar molecules, as well as their potential relevance and impact on the current theories of the origin of life on Earth. Together we will explore and discuss complex processes leading to the formation of molecules ranging from simple diatomic molecules to complex astrobiologically important species (amino acids,peptides, sugars, nucleobases, and other molecules) in the interstellar medium and in our Solar System – both in the gas phase (molecular clouds, star-forming regions, atmospheres of planets and their moons), and in the solid state (interstellar grains, icy planets and moons, comets). Students will apply a comprehensive understanding of these processes in order to interpret data from astronomical observations and space missions to develop realistic models of how distinct interstellar and Solar System environments are processed chemically. Current misconceptions in astrochemistry and alternative explanations will also be highlighted and discussed.