Habitability of Other Planets and Satellites [Paperback]

Is the Earth the right model and the only universal key to understand habitability, the origin and maintenance of life? Are we able to detect life elsewhere in the universe by the existing techniques and by the upcoming space missions? This book tries to give answers by focusing on environmental properties, which are playing a major role in influencing planetary surfaces or the interior of planets and satellites. The book gives insights into the nature of planets or satellites and their potential to harbor life. Different scientific disciplines are searching for the clues to classify planetary bodies as a habitable object and what kind of instruments and what kind of space exploration missions are necessary to detect life. Results from model calculations, field studies and from laboratory studies in planetary simulation facilities will help to elucidate if some of the planets and satellites in our solar system as well as in extra-solar systems are potentially habitable for life.This book examines the nature of planets and their potential to harbor life as well as the role of life itself as an engine to increase the habitability of planets and satellites.? It details new mission concepts for the remote study of habitability.

Foreword; Joseph Seckbach
Preface; Hagai Netzer
Introduction; Jean-Pierre de Vera
List of Authors and Their Addresses
Acknowledgements; Jean-Pierre de Vera and Joseph Seckbach
Part 1: PARAMETERS FOR HABITABILITY, HABITABLE ZONES AND LIFE: ENERGY, LIQUID SOLVENT, INFORMATION
The Habitable Zone: Basic Concepts; Stephen Kane
Exoplanets: Criteria for Their Habitability and Possible Biospheres; John Lee Grenfell, Heike Rauer and Philip von Paris
The Habitable Zone and The Generalized Greenhouse Effect; Giora Shaviv and Smadar Bressler, Nir J. Shaviv
The Influence of UV Radiation on Exoplanets Habitability; Orion Talmi and Giora Shaviv
Factors of Planetarl3)