The Search for Life in the Universe

This work presents astronomy from the standpoint of estimating the likelihood of extraterrestrial life and the possibilities of finding it. Thus the text covers the fundamentals of astronomy, the origins and evolution of life on Earth, the formation and present state of the sun's family of planets and moons, and the opportunities and limitations on interstellar travel and communication. The book's final chapters deal with the issue of UFO reports and with Enrico Fermi's famous question, where is everybody? The book is suitable for college freshmen with no background in mathematics.