Week 10 Discussions

Discussion #1

Describe the primary goals of the SETI program and the tools used to conduct this research. Explain how SETI researchers use the Drake Equation to quantify the odds of alien life. Note: Please feel free to include your personal opinions on the work conducted at SETI.

Discussion # 2

Review the interactive titled “The Birth of a Black Hole” located at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/birth-black-hole.html. Be prepared to discuss.

Watch the video titled "Hunting Black Holes with X-Ray Eyes" (3 min 9 sec). Be prepared to discuss. Video Source: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Hunting Black Holes with X-Ray Eyes [Video file]. Retrieved from http://science360.gov/obj/video/b9af6

752-a52c-4ddd-8478-081eb5c3c903/hunting-black-holes-x-ray-eyes.

From the first and second e-Activities, describe how black holes are believed to form. Assess the various tools and techniques that are used to study and observe black holes, as well as the ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum that are best suited for these studies.