Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2016
In this book the reader gets a first course on different methods that are used in various ways to search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and planets that might be suitable for life.
The book gives a wide overview of for example SETI research with radio telescopes, the techniques employed there, and what are the results so far. But the main focus is on exoplanets - a hot and popular topic to say the least. How are exoplanet discoveries made, which methods are used, what are we looking for if we are really hunting for alien life - what kind of starsystem, a planet of which size and distance from the star etc - those are some of the things that the reader gains an understanding for.
The book reaches also a bit beyond with questions such as how might alien life look like and whether or not it would be beneficial if we could communicate with an extraterrestrial civilization.
Exoplanets are an interesting topic - the possibility of the existence of other planets outside of our Solar system, hasn't been a possible research area for long, mostly because of the equipment,precision and computing power needed. However now we're already inching closer and closer to finding a planet that would bear more resemblance to the Earth than any other planet in our own system.
The Hunt for Alien Life is a great book for finding out more about the background of exoplanet research. It's detailed and well-written.
Labels: book review, exoplanets, SETI