ASTR 1010: Astronomy of the Solar System

Right: A common misconception: the Moon must rotate around its axis in order to see just one side of it. Source: Shay Lenox (Science Story)

Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective, 9^th Edition; Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit (Pearson/Addison Wesley),

Chapters 1-13 & S1, Fall 2019

                           Course Calendar

Please note: Unexpected circumstances may result in changes to the course calendar

Also note: Lecture slides and question sheets are only posted slightly after each lecture. Links of lectures not yet delivered have no content.

Part 1: Developing Perspective

August 29
         Subjects: Chapter 1.3-1.5 and Chapter 2.1. "Discovering the Universe for Yourself"
         Chapter 2 slides, in PDF format
         Home work: read Chapter 2 section 2.4 and Chapter 3, sections 3.1 and 3.2.
         Chapter 2 extra images and movies.

September 3
         Subjects: Chapter 2.2-2.4 and Chapter 3, "The Science of Astronomy", section 3.1
         Chapter 2 slides (remaining), in PDF format
         Chapter 3 slides (starting), in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 2 practice questions, in PDF format,
         and Read Chapter 3.2 to 3.5.
         Extra movies.

September 5
         Subjects: Chapter 3, "The Science of Astronomy", sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5
         Chapter 3 slides (remaining), in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 3 practice questions, in PDF format, and read Chapter S1
         Extra movies.

September 9
         This week the labs start, see the Lab Website

September 10
         Subjects: Chapter S1 "Celestial Time Keeping and Navigation"
         Chapter S1 slides, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter S1 practice questions, in PDF format

September 12
         Practice Lecture for Test #1: Chapters 1-3 & S1
         Chapter 1 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 2 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 3 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter S1 Review Questions in PDF format
         Test #1 Study Guide
         Home work: Prep for Test #1 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides, practice and test questions.

September 17
         Test #1: Part 1, Chapters 1, 2, 3 & S1 (multiple choice, all 75 minutes)
         Home work: Read Chapter 4, sections 4.1, 4.2 & 4.3

Part 2: Key Concepts for Astronomy

September 19
         Subjects: Chapter 4 "Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity",
         Chapter4; Sections 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3
         Chapter 4 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 4 Movies and Simulations as shown in class
         Chapter 4 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Read Chapter 4, sections 4.4 & 4.5

September 24
         Subjects: Chapter 4 "Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity",
         Chapter 4; Sections 4.4 and 4.5 and Chapter 5; Sections 5.1, 5.2
         Chapter 4 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 4 Movies and Simulations as shown in class
         Chapter 5 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 5 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 4, 5 practice questions; read Chapter 5 section 5.4, 5.5
         Chapter 5 Movies and Simulations as shown in class

September 26
         Subjects: Chapter 5 "Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos",
         sections 5.4 and 5.5
         Chapter 5 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 5 Movies and Simulations as shown in class
         Chapter 5 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Read Chapter 6

October 1
         Subjects: Chapter 6 "Telescopes: Portals of Discovery"
         Chapter 6 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 6 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 6 practice questions

October 3
         Subject: Review of Chapters 4, 5 & 6 - Part I
         Chapter 4 Review Questions in PDF format;
         Chapter 5 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 6 Review Questions in PDF format
         Home work: Prepare for Test #2 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides and test questions
         Test #2 Study Guide

October 8
         Subject: Review of Chapters 4, 5 & 6 - Part II
         Chapter 4 Review Questions in PDF format;
         Chapter 5 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 6 Review Questions in PDF format
         Home work: Prepare for Test #2 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides and test questions
         Test #2 Study Guide

October 10
         Test # 2: Part 2, Chapters 4, 5 & 6
         Home work: Read Chapter 7

Part 3: Learning from Other Worlds

October 15
         Subject: Chapter 7, "Our Planetary System"
         Chapter 7 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 7 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 7 practice questions; Read Chapter 8
         Chapter 7 extra images and movies

October 15
         Last day to withdraw from course

October 17
         Subject: Chapter 8, "Formation of the Solar System"
         Chapter 8 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 8 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 8 practice questions; Read Chapter 9

October 22
         Subject: Chapter 9, "Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds"
         Chapter 9 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 9 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 9 practice questions
         Chapter 9 extra images and movies

October 24
         Review of Part 3, Chapters 7, 8 & 9 - Part I
         Chapter 7 Review Questions in PDF format;
         Chapter 8 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 9 Review Questions in PDF format
         Test #3 Study Guide
         Home work: Prep for test #3 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides and test questions

October 29
         Review of Part 3, Chapters 7, 8 & 9 - Part II
         Chapter 7 Review Questions in PDF format;
         Chapter 8 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 9 Review Questions in PDF format
         Test #3 Study Guide
         Home work: Prep for test #3 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides and test questions

October 31
         Test # 3: Part 3, Chapters 7, 8 & 9
         Home work: Read Chapter 10

November 5
         Subject: Chapter 10, Atmospheric Basics
         Chapter 10 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 10 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 10 practice questions; Read Chapter 11
         Chapter 10 extra images and movies

November 7
         Subject: Chapter 11, Jovian Planets, Their Satellites & Rings
         Chapter 11 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 11 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 11 practice questions; Read Chapter 12
         Chapter 11 extra images and movies

November 12
         Subject: Chapter 12, Meteors & Asteroids, Pluto & Kuiper Belt
         Chapter 12 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 12 practice questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 12 practice questions; Read Chapter 13
         Chapter 12 extra images and movies

November 14
         Review of Part 3, Chapters 10, 11 & 12 - Part I
         Chapter 10 Review Questions in PDF format;
         Chapter 11 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 12 Review Questions in PDF format
         Test #4 Study Guide
         Home work: Prep for test #4 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides and test questions

November 15
         Submission deadline for the extra credit opportunity (see instructions here:
         Extra Credit Opportunity Instructions

November 19
         Review of Part 3, Chapters 10, 11 & 12 - Part II
         Chapter 10 Review Questions in PDF format;
         Chapter 11 Review Questions in PDF format
         Chapter 12 Review Questions in PDF format
         Test #4 Study Guide
         Home work: Prep for test #4 by rereading the chapters, going over the slides and test questions

November 21
         Test # 4: Part 4, Chapters 10, 11 & 12

November 26 & 28
         No Class, Thanksgiving Break

December 3
         Subject: Chapter 13,"Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds"
         Chapter 13 slides, in PDF format
         Chapter 13 practice questions, in PDF format
         Chapter 13 review questions, in PDF format
         Home work: Chapter 13 practice and review questions

December 5
         No Class, due to absence

December 9
         Same time; but at Urban Life Room #170, specifically for this lecture
         I will answer your questions for the finals and there will be a
         Finals Practice Exam with Answers.
        The questions in the Final Test will be similar, but not as hard.

December 9
         End of Classes

December 12
         Finals: 10:45 - 13:15, Multiple Choice Test on Chapters 1-13 & S1
         What you need to know: Look at the Study Guides for the four tests,
         plus the one for Chapter 13, PDF Format

December 19
         Deadline for Final Grades on PAWS at 5 pm.