This document summarizes a presentation titled "BIS 402 : LIFE BEYOND EARTH - First Contact – Discovery of Life Elsewhere 16 October 2018". The presentation discusses how Earth and our solar system have many unique characteristics that make life possible, such as Earth being the right distance from the sun, the stabilizing presence of Jupiter, and the size and orbit of the moon. It also discusses how exoplanets like those in the TRAPPIST-1 system or Jupiter's moon Europa may host life. The presenters aim to discuss first contact with life in a positive way and explore potential places life could exist beyond Earth.

1. BIS 402 : LIFE BEYOND EARTH
First Contact – Discovery of Life Elsewhere 16 October
2018

2. YOUR PRESENTORS
 Jeff Duntemann
 Science Fiction Writer
 Editor
 Publisher
 http://www.contrapositivediary.com
 Don Doerres
 Professional STEM
Mentor
 Rocket Scientist
 Science Fiction Writer
 https://www.slideshare.net/dondoerre
s
There really is
a computer in
here…really!
There is a
system to
this…

3. VIEWPOINT
 If you are looking for a Dark and Dystopian
First Contact Perspective you’ve come to the
wrong place
 We’re into high adventure and positive
outcomes

4. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 1
 You are likely familiar with the term
“Goldilocks planets” that are just the right
size and just the right distance from the right
kind of sun.
 They are “just right” for life as we know it.
 But there is more to it than that.

5. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 2 – SUN LOCATION
 The Sun is located at very special place in
the galaxy, far from the center and between
two arms.
 With a very small displacement, it would
tumble into an arm, have a messy, unstable
orbit, and likely a short life span
 Astron. Astrophys. 341, 81–85 (1999) ; Yes,
the Sun is located near the corotation circle

6. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 3 – UNIQUE
DISTRIBUTION OF PLANETS
 The arrangement of large and small planets
in the solar system is surprisingly stable.
 Computer simulations show the stability has
lasted for billions of years and can last for
billions of years
 http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/3005
52/fulltext/

7. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 4 – LUCKY JUPITER
 Jupiter is just the right size and in just the
right orbit to sweep up a lot of debris before it
hits earth
 Jupiter and Saturn appear to stabilize each
other, making our inner solar system a rare
thing
 https://news.ucsc.edu/2015/03/wandering-
jupiter.html

8. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 5 – STABLE EARTH
 Earth and Moon spin around each other and
provide Earth with a very stable axial orbit
 Moon is far too big for a regular moon
 Could not be captured by Earth gravity
 Could not “bulge off” from an early cooling Earth
 Likely result of a planetary collision
 Or….is the Moon Earth’s stillborn twin????

9. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 6 - ATMOSPHERE
 Early on, Earth may have had a really thick
atmosphere
 A possible planetary collision could have
knocked most of the atmosphere away,
leaving us with our breathable atmosphere
rather than a crushing ocean of air
 https://www.space.com/23031-moon-origin-
impact-earth-atmosphere.html

10. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 7 – MORE MOON FUN
 If the Moon were any bigger, the Earth would
likely be tidally locked with the Moon, which
means the Earth and the Moon would be
showing fixed faces to each other.
 If the Moon were much smaller, it would be
too small to stabilize Earth’s wobble.

11. A FAIRLY UNIQUE PLACE 8 – TECTONIC PLATES
 A possibility for the creation of tectonic plates
is that the Moon carried away about a third of
the Earth’s crust in its formation.
 Without the missing mass, plates would be
evenly distributed and covered with water.
Earth would be a water world.
 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-
01x1.html

12. EXOPLANETS
 Goldilocks planets or moons may be out
there…
 Europa? www.space.com/27854-jupiter-
moon-europa-amazing-photo.html
 TRAPPIST? www.nasa.gov/press-
release/nasa-telescope-reveals-largest-
batch-of-earth-size-habitable-zone-planets-
around

13. THIS AND OTHER STERLING PRESENTATIONS
CAN BE FOUND AT…
 https://www.slideshare.net/dondoerres