Water in the Universe

Due to its specific chemical and physical properties aater is essential for life on Earth. And it is assumed that this would be the case for extraterrestrial life as well. Therefore it is important to investigate where water can be found in the Universe. There are places that are completely dry, places where the last rainfall happened probably several 100 million years ago but surprisingly this substance is quite omnipresent. In the outer solar system the large satellites of Jupiter and Saturn are covered by a thick layer of ice and perhaps below that there is a liquid ocean.§This of course leads to the question whether the recently detected extrasolar planets could have some water on their surfaces and how we can detect this. Water molecules are also found in interstellar gas and dust clouds. §This book begins with an introductory chapter reviewing the physical and chemical properties of water. Then it illuminates the apparent connection of water and life. This is followed by chapters reviewing our current knowledge of water in the solar system, followed by a discussion of the question of the potential presence and possible detection of water on exoplanets. Signature of water in interstellar space and stars are reviewed before finally the origin of water in the Universe is discussed. The book ends with an appendix on detection methods, satellite mission and astrophysical concepts touched upon in the main parts of the book.§The search for water in the universe is related with the search for extraterrestrial life and of fundamental importance for astrophysics, astrobiology and other related topics. This book therefore addresses students and researchers in these fields.