This book is designed to present in a single unit a relatively new field of astronomy, and is intended for the high school teacher of physics, chemistry, astronomy, or earth science courses. To achieve the conceptual goals of this unit, the student should attain a general understanding of: A) The physical conditions in interstellar space in comparison with those of the Earth, particularly in regard to gas density, temperature, and radiation. B) The concept of quantized molecular motion (electronic, vibrational, rotational); ...
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This book is designed to present in a single unit a relatively new field of astronomy, and is intended for the high school teacher of physics, chemistry, astronomy, or earth science courses. To achieve the conceptual goals of this unit, the student should attain a general understanding of: A) The physical conditions in interstellar space in comparison with those of the Earth, particularly in regard to gas density, temperature, and radiation. B) The concept of quantized molecular motion (electronic, vibrational, rotational); the corresponding energy ranges of radiation (ultraviolet, visible, infrared, radio); the windows of atmospheric transparency. C) Methods of identifying molecules in space; definition of a spectrum and the information it can give about the chemistry and physical conditions in interstellar dust clouds. D) The "organic" nature of interstellar chemistry; the kinds of molecules found; some possible ways these molecules are made and destroyed in space, including the role of interstellar dust grains. E) Application of our knowledge of interstellar molecules to study the birth of stars, the structure and movement of our galaxy, the history of interstellar matter, and the origin of the universe and of life.
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