The Children of EarthThe Children of Earth

SOAR Fall 2004SOAR Fall 2004

The Origin Of MetalsThe Origin Of MetalsOnly elements lighter than iron

can be made in living stars.Only elements lighter than iron

can be made in living stars.

Light elements from living starsLight elements

from living stars

Heavy elements from …Heavy elements from …

Giant StarsGiant Stars

Have layers fusing

different elements

Have layers fusing

different elements

IronIronIron is the most stable element

ABSORBS energy in fusion ABSORBS energy in fission

Iron is the most stable element ABSORBS energy in fusion ABSORBS energy in fission

When iron core begins to fuse energy is absorbed by reaction

When iron core begins to fuse energy is absorbed by reaction

star implodes … outer layers bounce off dense inner core

star explodes …

star implodes … outer layers bounce off dense inner core

star explodes …

core cools … contracts outer layers begin to fall in

core cools … contracts outer layers begin to fall in

SupernovaSupernova

Crab NebulaCrab

NebulaSupernova Observed in 1054 by Chinese & Anazazi

Supernova Observed in 1054 by Chinese & Anazazi Aldebaran

in Taurus

Capella in Auriga

Rigel in

Orion

Sirius in Canis Major

Procyon in Canis

Minor

Castor in Gemini

Pollux in Gemini

M1

Supernova Remnant

Supernova RemnantCrab Nebula

“Guest Star” in, Taurus noted in Chinese records in 1054 and on rock overhang

in Chaco Cañon, NM.

Crab Nebula“Guest Star” in, Taurus noted in Chinese records in 1054 and on rock overhang

in Chaco Cañon, NM.

Is still expanding …

still exploding!

Crab NebulaCrab Nebula

VLT Optical ImageVLT Optical Image

Crab PulsarCrab PulsarNeutron star pulses! Initially called

“LGM” for “little green men.”Neutron star pulses! Initially called

“LGM” for “little green men.”

Crab NebulaCrab Nebula

Core of exploded star is

a neutron

star

Core of exploded star is

a neutron

star

Inner CrabInner CrabCombine

d HST optical

and Chandra

X-ray images

Combined HST optical

and Chandra

X-ray images

The first pulsar discovered!

PulsarsPulsarsRapidly Rotating Neutron Stars

Emission “beamed” by magnetic fields

Bright when beam points at Earth

Stars “spin-up” during collapse like spinning skater

Rapidly Rotating Neutron Stars

Emission “beamed” by magnetic fields

Bright when beam points at Earth

Stars “spin-up” during collapse like spinning skater

Eta Carinae

Eta Carinae

A star 100 times the

mass of Sol …in death

throes

A star 100 times the

mass of Sol …in death

throes

Southern Sky from CTIOSouthern Sky from CTIO

Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory La Serena, ChileCerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory La Serena, Chile

4 m telescope 4 m telescope

1.5 m telescope1.5 m

telescope

LMCLMC

SMCSMC

Southern Cross (Crux)

Southern Cross (Crux)

Cen Cen

Cen Cen

Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory La Serena, ChileCerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory La Serena, Chile

Starry Night View

Starry Night View

Eta Carinae

Eta Carinae

“… Bathe yourself in the ocean of matter; plunge into it where it is deepest and most violent; struggle in its currents and drink of its waters.

“For it cradled you long ago in your preconscious existence; and it is that ocean that will raise you up to God.”

Teilhard de Chardin

The Milky Way GalaxyThe Milky Way Galaxy

Sun ~ 30,000 ly from centerGalactic Year ~225,000,000 yr (Sol is ~22)

Sun ~ 30,000 ly from centerGalactic Year ~225,000,000 yr (Sol is ~22)

M87, a galaxy much like the Milky Way

http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-1999/pr-18-99.html

Solar SystemSolar System Sun & Planets formed from interstellar clouds collapsing under gravity

Sun & Planets formed from interstellar clouds collapsing under gravity

Solar SystemSolar

System

Inner Worlds: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Inner Worlds: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Positions at 17:00 UT, 1/23/04

1 AU = 150,000,000 km= 93,000,000 mi

Solar SystemSolar

System

Outer Worlds: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,

Neptune, Pluto

Outer Worlds: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,

Neptune, Pluto

Positions at 17:00 UT, 1/23/04

SS width ~ 12,000,000,000 km~ 7,500,000,000 mi

Sun and Planets to scale

Contents of the Solar System

Contents of the Solar System

Planet Mosaic

Planets Mercury (y) Venus (v) Earth () Mars (m) Jupiter (j) Saturn (t) Uranus (U or u) Neptune (n) Pluto (P)

Planets Mercury (y) Venus (v) Earth () Mars (m) Jupiter (j) Saturn (t) Uranus (U or u) Neptune (n) Pluto (P)

AsteroidsAsteroidsMostly beyond Earth’s orbit

Mostly beyond Earth’s orbit

Ida & Dactyl

Gaspra

An asteroid with a moon!

AsteroidsAsteroidsCome close to EarthCan hit Earth

Come close to EarthCan hit Earth

Asteroid ImpactsAsteroid ImpactsCause of mass extinctions?Cause of mass extinctions?

Chicxulub ImpactChicxulub ImpactDemise of the dinosaurs?Demise of the dinosaurs?

http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/SIC/impact_cratering/Chicxulub/Chicx_title.html

Mapped by gravitational anomalies On Edge of Yucatan

Peninsula

Earth c. 65 million

BCE

Comets: Dirty Snowballs

Comets: Dirty Snowballs

Comet Halley from ESA’s Giotto, 1986

Comet Hale-Bopp & N. American Nebula 3/97 Col Drusciè Observatory, Cortina d'Ampezzo - Italy

Comet Explorer, c. 2025

Life’s HistoryLife’s History

Earth is 4.5 by oldNowNow

ThenThen

Earliest life 3.5 by ago:

stromatolites (cyanobacteri

a)

Earliest life 3.5 by ago:

stromatolites (cyanobacteri

a)

Life At High TemperatureLife At High Temperature

Hot Springs in Yellowstone National ParkHot Springs in Yellowstone National Park

Cyanobacteria … the most

ancient life on Earth

Cyanobacteria … the most

ancient life on Earth

Life In The DarkLife In The Dark

The Deep Sea VentsThe Deep Sea VentsLife utilizes minerals from Earth’s

interiorLife utilizes minerals from Earth’s

interior

Life’s HistoryLife’s History

Evolution of complex life only in last 570 million years!

Evolution of complex life only in last 570 million years!

Most evolution has taken place ONLY in last 3% of the age of the universe!

Most evolution has taken place ONLY in last 3% of the age of the universe!

Life In The AirLife In The Air

Sandhill Cranes, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, NM

The last of the dinosaurs!The last of the dinosaurs!

Abundance Of LifeAbundance Of Life

Life survives in every ecosystem on Earth … even within ice and rocks!

Life survives in every ecosystem on Earth … even within ice and rocks!

Microbe from Antarctic IceMicrobe from Antarctic Ice

Sulfide-digesting

bacteria on rocks

Sulfide-digesting

bacteria on rocks

Life Everywhere On Land

Life Everywhere On Land

Life From The RocksLife From The Rocks

Lichens: symbiotic

associations of algae and

fungi

Lichens: symbiotic

associations of algae and

fungi

Shrub on the desert pavementShrub on the desert pavement

Trees From The RocksTrees From The Rocks

Life On The Trees

Life On The Trees

Given Hydrogen, Gravity & 15 Billion Years The Universe MadeGiven Hydrogen, Gravity & 15

Billion Years The Universe Made

Puppies!Puppies!KivaKiva

PacePace

Touching EarthTouching Earth

Whenever your feet touch Earth

you know they are touchingWhere something has died

or been born.Antler

Earth Prayers

Whenever your feet touch Earth

you know they are touchingWhere something has died

or been born.Antler

Earth Prayers

And All Is From The Stars!And All Is From The Stars!

Giant stars produced Fe, Zn, Au, Ag, Hg, Pb, I, Ba ...

Sun-sized stars produced C, O, N …

Except the hydrogen which is from the first millisecond after the Big bang!

Human HistoryHuman History

Humanoids appeared about a million years ago …

0.04% of Earth’s age, 0.007% of Universe’s age

Humanoids appeared about a million years ago …

0.04% of Earth’s age, 0.007% of Universe’s age

Human HistoryHuman History

Written human history covers about last 10,000 years (since the glaciers melted)

0.0004% of Earth’s age,

0.00007% of Universe’s age

Written human history covers about last 10,000 years (since the glaciers melted)

0.0004% of Earth’s age,

0.00007% of Universe’s age

If the history of the universe were a year, Humans would show up in the last ½ hour before midnight on

December 31!

If the history of the universe were a year, Humans would show up in the last ½ hour before midnight on

December 31!

Psalm 8Psalm 8

When I look at your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars that

you have established;

what are human beings that

you are mindful of them,

mortals that you care for them?

When I look at your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars that

you have established;

what are human beings that

you are mindful of them,

mortals that you care for them?

GenesisGenesis

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it

was very good. And there was evening and there was

morning, the sixth day.”

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it

was very good. And there was evening and there was

morning, the sixth day.”

And we are all made of star stuff!

And we are all made of star stuff!

Caring for Earth’s CreaturesCaring for Earth’s Creatures

“The concern here is with the possibility of a theology of nature, that is, using the picture of reality

coming to us from postmodern science as a way to reimagine the relationship between God and the

world…

“The concern here is with the possibility of a theology of nature, that is, using the picture of reality

coming to us from postmodern science as a way to reimagine the relationship between God and the

world…

Caring for Earth’s CreaturesCaring for Earth’s Creatures

“…to consider ourselves as inspirited bodies, profoundly

interrelated with all other such bodies and yet having the distinction of shared responsibility with God for

the well being of our planet.”

Sally McFagueThe Body of God

“…to consider ourselves as inspirited bodies, profoundly

interrelated with all other such bodies and yet having the distinction of shared responsibility with God for

the well being of our planet.”

Sally McFagueThe Body of God

God and the UniverseGod and the Universe

“Matter and spirit: these were no longer two things, but two

states of one and the same cosmic stuff.”

Teilhard de Chardin

“Matter and spirit: these were no longer two things, but two

states of one and the same cosmic stuff.”

Teilhard de Chardin