Synopsis:
These questions have captured the attention and imagination of mankind for centuries, but have only recently entered the realm of science...
With the discovery of the first extrasolar planet in 1995 began the analysis of the similarities and differences between these previously unknown worlds and the planets orbiting the Sun. This book introduces the reader to the process that led to the discovery of these worlds, as well as to the methods and results of research on extrasolar planets, the discovery of which has expanded the field of comparative planetology and led to a better understanding of the mechanisms of planet formation and evolution in general. Among the challenges of astrobiology for the immediate future is the study of the habitability conditions of these worlds located beyond the solar system, as well as the search for signs of biological activity in the atmosphere of exoplanets, which will allow us to finally know if life is possible in other parts of the universe or if it is exclusive to our planet.
Author biography
Álvaro Giménez Cañete, PhD in Physics, has been full professor of Astrophysics at the Complutense University of Madrid and is a research professor at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (CSIC, Granada). He was director general of the Instituto de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), where he helped to create the Laboratory of Space Astrophysics and Fundamental Physics (LAEFF) and the Space Sciences Division. He was a founding member and later director of the Center for Astrobiology (CSIC-INTA). He was director of the Department of Research and Scientific Support and coordinator of Science Policy at the European Space Agency (ESA). He is currently the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at ESA. He holds the Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit and is a member of the International Academy of Aeronautics.
Editorial : Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas; N.º 1 edition (22 March 2012)
Author : Álvaro Giménez Cañete
Language : Spanish
Soft cover : 136 pages
Product weight : 181 g
Dimensions : 13.97 x 1.91 x 21.59 cm
