Search Publications
An approximation to determine the source of the WOW! Signal
Caballero, Alberto
In this paper it is analysed which of the thousands of stars in the WOW! Signal region could have the highest chance of being the real source of the signal, providing that it came from a star system similar to ours. A total of 66 G and K-type stars are sampled, but only one of them is identified as a potential Sun-like star considering the availab…
Impact of space weather on climate and habitability of terrestrial-type exoplanets
Luhmann, J. G.; France, K.; Verkhoglyadova, O. P. +44 more
The search for life in the Universe is a fundamental problem of astrobiology and modern science. The current progress in the detection of terrestrial-type exoplanets has opened a new avenue in the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres and in the search for biosignatures of life with the upcoming ground-based and space missions. To specify t…
Astrometric study of Gaia DR2 stars for interstellar communication
Seto, Naoki; Kashiyama, Kazumi
We discuss the prospects of high precision pointing of our transmitter to habitable planets around Galactic main sequence stars. For an efficient signal delivery, the future sky positions of the host stars should be appropriately extrapolated with accuracy better than the beam opening angle $\Theta$ of the transmitter. Using the latest data releas…
Ground-based detection of a cloud of methanol from Enceladus: when is a biomarker not a biomarker?
Clements, D. L.; Drabek-Maunder, E.; Greaves, J. +2 more
aturn's moon Enceladus has vents emerging from a sub-surface ocean, offering unique probes into the liquid environment. These vents drain into the larger neutral torus in orbit around Saturn. We present a methanol (CH3OH) detection observed with IRAM 30-m from 2008 along the line-of-sight through Saturn's E-ring. Additionally, we also p…
Morphometry of volcanic cones on Mars in perspective of Astrobiological Research
Gilichinsky, Michael; Demidov, Nikita; Rivkina, Elizaveta
The permanently frozen volcanic sediment is one of the most promising geological objects for searching life on Mars. On Earth, volcanic intrusions into permafrost result in formation of the unique microbial communities. We propose several terrestrial analogues of Martian polar volcanoes, such as the permanently frozen volcanic sediments on the Kam…
Self-assembly of tholins in environments simulating Titan liquidospheres: implications for formation of primitive coacervates on Titan
Kawai, Jun; Jagota, Seema; Kaneko, Takeo +6 more
Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn, has a thick atmosphere containing nitrogen and methane. A variety of organic compounds have been detected in the atmosphere, most likely produced when atmospheric gases are exposed to ultraviolet light, electrons captured by the magnetosphere of Saturn and cosmic rays. The Cassini/Huygens probe showed that t…
Hubble Space Telescope observations of Europa in and out of eclipse
Ford, H. C.; Sparks, W. B.; Hough, J. H. +7 more
Europa is a prime target for astrobiology and has been prioritized as the next target for a National Aeronautics and Space Administration flagship mission. It is important, therefore, that we advance our understanding of Europa, its ocean and physical environment as much as possible. Here, we describe observations of Europa obtained during its orb…
The potential for prebiotic chemistry in the possible cryovolcanic dome Ganesa Macula on Titan
Lorenz, R. D.; Neish, C. D.; O'Brien, D. P. +1 more
New observations of Titan by the Cassini spacecraft suggest the presence of cryovolcanism on the surface. Cryovolcanism has important astrobiological implications, as it provides a means of exposing Titan's organics to liquid water, transforming hydrocarbons and nitriles into more evolved and oxidized prebiotic species. One possible cryovolcano - …