PHYS 001D Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Lick Observatory, Moe Williams, Astrobiology
12 May 2020
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Delivered first hi-res images of martian surface. Included lander component to study martian surface and atmosphere. Exposed dirt to artificial sunlight for evidence of photosynthesis. Injected fertilizer/food into the soil for evidence of a metabolism of bacteria. Indicated a positive result, but is generally considered a false positive. Another experiment has not been sent in the last 40 years. Some astrobiologists feel that the biology experiments were over-hyped . Most people do not believe that life was found on mars. Impractical once you begin to leave the solar system. Reflecting: uses a mirror to reflect light. Refracting: instead of using a mirror, it uses a lens and takes the incoming light that then focuses it on a specific point. Most large telescopes (d > 1 meter) are reflective. Lenses are heavy, thick and glass flows over time. Mirrors sit at the bottom of the telescope and are lighter.
