Catalog description: This course covers the origin and evolution of the solar system as determined by recent manned and unmanned exploration. We'll use the conceptual framework of 'comparative planetology' to understand the Earth and its moon, the eight planets, three dwarf planets, over 95 moons, asteroids and comets. 4 units, No prerequisites, GE credit: SciEng, Wrt
Goal of the course: To
help you to comprehend nature at the
astronomical scale and to gain a deeper appreciation of the uniqueness
of Planet Earth. The overriding theme of the course will be the
possibility of life elsewhere in the solar system and
why life is such a
rare and precious phenomenon on Earth.
I
need to check on this, but in past years the
publishers of the textbook supplied an online set
of study tools that you can visit at http://www.brookscole.com/astronomy
. Visit this website and browse around till you find the
right resources.
Outlines of Notes:
Outlines of notes for individual lectures will be posted on the class website (Lecture Notes) within a day or so of the scheduled classtime. The notes are relatively comprehensive, but should be supplemented with sketches and extra notes - they are not a substitute for coming to class.
Print them off to use as a guide, annotate them with details from the lectures, draw sketches along the margins, and study them for exams. The notes need to be further supplemented by selectively reading the relevant pages in the textbook. The notes are password-protected (which I'll give you in class).
Come to class - You'll spend much less time attending the class and listening to me, asking me questions, seeing the images and listening to stories, than you will trying to teach the material to yourself from notes and the book.
I strongly encourage you to speak up in class - any question is legitimate and I'll take the time to answer it.
Course content: Emphasis on principles and concepts, not trivia and factinos. A few fundamental laws of physics explain numerous natural processes governing planetary behavior in the solar system. Isolated facts have no real meaning without a conceptual context.
- Midterm (Wednesday, April 30) = 25%
- Term Paper (due week of May 5-8) = 20%
- Discussion (participation, exercises, final quiz) = 20%
- Final (Monday, June 9, 6:00-8:00 pm) = 35%
Exams will be multiple choice. Be forewarned, the exam will force you to think - know your stuff. I don't give extra credit assignments. NO EARLY EXAMS OR MAKEUP EXAMS.
A copy of the syllabus for discussion can be found at Disc.Syllabus 08. The TAs will go over discussion topics with you in class and supply you with materials.
To download instructions for the Term Paper
Regarding the term paper assignment, if you are unclear as to what constitutes plagiarism, please visit the Student Judicial Affairs website and browse. It is very important that you understand this, as these issues arise every year - don't be the one to raise the problem.
| Week of: | Lecture Topic: | Reading: |
| March
31 - April 7 |
Introduction;
Survey of the Solar System; Origin of the Solar System |
Ch. 1, 19 |
| April 9-14 | The Sun; Light, Matter, and Spectra | Ch. 8, 6, 7 |
| April 16-21 | Meteorites; Comets | Ch. 25 |
| April
23-28 |
Our Moon; Impact Craters; Mercury | Ch. 21 |
| April 30 |
Midterm (50 minutes, bring Scantron 2000) | |
| May 2 |
optional classtime to pass back
midterm & go over
exam - room location and time to be announced |
|
| May
2 |
Life in the
Solar System
and Beyond? |
Ch.
26, 21 |
| May 5-9 | Venus; Planet Earth | Ch. 22, 20 |
| May 12-16 | Mars
&
Mars Exploration |
Ch. 22 |
| May 19-23 |
Asteroids
and
Impacts; Jupiter; Rings and Moons of Jupiter |
Ch. 25, 23 |
| May
26 |
Memorial Day - no class | |
| May 28-30 |
Saturn; Rings and Moons of Saturn | Ch.
23 |
| June 2-4 |
Uranus;
Neptune; Pluto & other
Dwarfs |
Ch. 24 |
| Monday June 9 |
Final
Exam - 6:00-8:00 pm (comprehensive,
covers material
from 3/31 to 6/4) - Geidt 1001 |
Earthrise
over the Moon (from
NASA/JPL)