Astronomy 105: The Planets

Text: "Cosmic Perspective: The Solar System", Authors: Bennett, Donahue, Schneider & Voit

Objectives: To learn about the the planets in our solar system, and the geology, chemistry and physics needed to understand the planets, the Sun, and the other smaller components of our Solar System.

Attendance: As with most college courses, the pace is fast, and your attendance will be necessary to achieve a good grade. If you are unable to attend because of illness or a family emergency, please contact the instructor (phone or email) before class so that allowances can be made for missed quizzes or homework assignments. If the absence is unexcused, no make-up work will be given. If a student has five or more unexcused absences, an automatic withdraw form will be issued. Note that the last date for withdrawing from class (to receive a "W") is October 12^th. The final exam is currently scheduled for Monday, December 6^th, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Student Evaluation:

Exams: 20%

Laboratory work: 25%

Unannounced quizzes: 10%

Homework exercises: 25%

In order to receive a grade of "S", the student must have a minimum of a "C" grade. Grade scale will be the normal one: 90 and Above = "A", 80 to 90 = "B", 70 to 80 = "C", 60 to 70 = "D", below 60 = "F". Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

Late/Make-up Assignment policy: Late homework assignments will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the instructor. Make-up quizzes and exams will be arranged for excused absences only.

Lab Class: Note that Astronomy 105 also has a weekly laboratory session associated with the lecture section to help fortify your classroom experience, as well as to give you hands-on experience in some of the techniques of modern astronomy. There are three specific lab sections that are directly associated with this lecture class, they are Astronomy 105 M01, M02, and M03. You MUST register for and attend one of these sections! These laboratory classes are held in Walden Hall room 232. M01 meets Mondays 2:30-4:30, M02 is 2:30 to 4:30 Tu, and M03 meets Tu 4:30-6:30.

Program Evaluation: Students will be asked to participate in a course evaluation at the end of the semester.

What is General Education Core Curriculum?

This course has been certified as one in New Mexico State University's General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). The GECC attempts to foster intelligent inquiry, abstract logical thinking, critical analysis, and the integration and synthesis of knowledge; it strives for literacy in writing, reading, speaking and listening; it teaches mathematical structures; acquainting students with precise abstract thought about numbers and space; it encourages an understanding of science and scientific inquiry; it provides a historical consciousness, including an understanding of one's own heritage as well as respect for other peoples and cultures; it includes an examination of values and stresses te importance of a carefully considered values system; it fosters an appreciation of the arts; and general education provides the breadth necessary to have a familiarity with the various branches of human understanding.

If you have, or believe you have, a disability that you wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing documentation to the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office located in Garcia Annex (646-6840). If you are already registered with the SSD office, and need accommodations, please provide your "Accommodation Memo" from the SSD within the first 2 weeks of class. If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit from the premises in case of an emergency, you are encouraged to discuss this with your instructor (or SSD Coordinator). If you have general questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) call 646-3333.

Tentative Schedule:

(The instructor reserves the right to alter this schedule as necessary!)

August 20^th: Course overview, organization, and introduction. The sizes of things, scientific notation, the origin of Astronomy. Lab: Labs start next week

Week of August 23^rd: The origin of Astronomy: "Skywatching", time, calendars (Ch. 2 and 5). Lab #1: (1) Tools for Success in ASTR 105G

Week of August 30^th: The motion of the Sun and Moon: Days, Months and Years. The motions of planets: the Geocentric (Ptolemaic) System. Phases of the Moon, and Lunar and Solar Eclipses (Ch. 2). Lab #2: (2) Origin of the Seasons

Week of September 6^th: (Note that Monday is the Labor Day Holiday) Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, and Galileo: the proper understanding of planetary motion (heliocentric system) (Ch 4 and 5). Lab: No labs this week due to holiday

Week of September 13^th: Gravity, Newton's laws, the Earth as a planet. Structure, history, and geological processes (Ch 9). Lab#3: (6) The Orbit of Mercury

Week of September 20^th: The Earth-Moon system. Nature of the Moon, its formation, and processes that shaped its surface (Ch. 10). Lab #4: (5) Kepler's laws

Week of September 27^th: Light, atomic structure and astronomical tools (Ch. 6, 7). Lab #5: (12) Surface of the Moon

October 4^th: Mid-term Exam

October 6^th and 8^th: Terrestrial planets: Mercury and Venus. Craters, volcanism, etc. (Ch 9 and 10). Lab #6: (8) Density

Week of October 11^th: Mars: characteristics, history, exploration and the possibility of life (Ch 9 and 10). Lab #7: (9) Estimating the Earth's Density

Week of October 18^th: Jovian Planets: Jupiter and Saturn (Ch 11). (March 21^st is a holiday). Lab #8: (14) Surface Water Flow Features on Mars

Week of October 25^th: Uranus and Neptune, the "ice giants". Moons of giant planets (Ch. 11). Lab #10: (15) Heat Loss from Io

Week of November 1^st: Pluto; planetary ring systems (Ch 11 and 12). Lab #11: (7) Size of the Solar System (held in Aggie Memorial Stadium)

Week of November 8^th: Comets and Asteroids, and other small components of the solar system. Origin of the Solar system (Ch. 8, 12, 13). Lab #12: (16) Building a Comet

Week of November 15^th: The Sun: "Our star", the heart and glue of the solar system; physical characteristics, power production, history and fate (Ch. 14). Lab #13: (18) The Sun

Week of November 22^nd: Thanksgiving week.

Week of November 29^th: Extrasolar planets---planets elsewhere in the Galaxy. Research paper due 11/29. Lab: Review

December 6^th: Final Exam 10:30am to 12:30 pm