This is a 3 credit course with no lab on basic planetary science and the solar system, generally taught in the Fall or Spring semester. The textbook for Fall 2008 is "Astronomy Today", 6th edition by Chaisson and McMillan. Click on the topic name to view that week's lecture slides.
Solar System Information on the Web
Date |
Lecture |
Topic |
Reading |
|
Monday, August 24 |
1 |
Introduction to the Course |
None |
|
Wednesday, August 26 |
2 |
Chapter 2.1-2.4 |
|
|
Friday, August 28 |
3 |
Observing and the
Sky |
Chapter 1.1-1.5 |
|
Monday, August 31 |
4 |
Observing the Moon and
Eclipses |
Chapter 1.6 |
|
Wednesday September 2 |
5 |
Chapter 2.5-2.8 |
|
|
Friday September 4 |
6 |
Chapter 7.5-7.6 |
|
|
Monday September 7 |
No Class (Labor Day) |
None |
|
|
Wednesday September 9 |
7 |
Chapter 5 and 6.6 |
|
|
Friday September 11 |
8 |
Chapter 6.7, 15.1-15.4 |
|
|
Monday September 14 |
|
Quiz #1 |
None |
|
Wednesday September 16 |
9 |
Chapter 6.1-6.4 |
|
|
Friday September 18 |
10 |
Chapter 8 (Mercury) |
|
|
Monday September 21 |
11 |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
Wednesday September 23 |
12 |
Chapter 7 |
|
|
Friday September 25 |
13 |
Chapter 8 (Moon) |
|
|
Monday September 28 |
14 |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
Wednesday September 30 |
15 |
Chapter 14.1 and 14.4 |
|
|
Friday October 2 |
|
Quiz #2 |
None |
|
Monday October 5 |
16 |
Chapter 6.4, 6.6 |
|
|
Wednesday October 7 |
17 |
Jupiter |
Chapter 11.1-11.4, 11.6 |
|
Friday October 9 |
18 |
Chapter 12.1-12.4 |
|
|
Monday October 12 |
19 |
Chapter 13.1-13.6 |
|
|
Wednesday October 14 |
20 |
Chapter 11.5 and 12.5 |
|
|
Friday October 16 |
|
No Class |
|
|
Monday October 19 |
21 |
Chapter 14.3 |
|
|
Wednesday October 21 |
22 |
Comets |
Chapter 14.2 |
|
Friday October 23 |
23 |
Chapter 16 |
|
|
Monday October 26 |
|
Quiz #3 |
None |
|
Wednesday October 28 |
24 |
Chapter 15.6 |
|
|
Friday October 30 |
25 |
Extra-Terrestrial Life and
the Drake Equation |
Chapter 28 |
|
Monday, Nov 2, 3pm |
|
Final Exam |
None |