Astronomy
370I
Spring
2009
Text: The Planetary System, The (3rd Edition)
by David Morrison, Tobias Owen
Paperback, 570 Pages, Published 2002,
3rd Edition
ISBN-10: 0-8053-8734-x
ISBN-13: 978-0-8053-8734-6
Instructor: K. Gordon
Office: F05 208
Phone:
Office Hours: Tu. Th. 2-3 P.M.
Download
printable lecture notes and other course materials: http://www.csulb.edu/~gordon/100l.html
Physics/Astronomy Department Office: PH1 # 220
Phone: (562) 985 4924
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Midterm Examinations (2) essay and multiple choice (50 essay + 50 mc) (2) |
200 Points |
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Final Examination multiple choice (100) |
100 Points |
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Paper 150 (33%) |
150 Points |
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Total 450 Points |
The student will have to demonstrate
advanced writing skills in the form of expository essays on exams (200 - 300
words) and a research paper (5000 words).
Clear, complete, yet
succinct expression will be emphasized. At least four substantial sources must
be cited.
Internet sources must
include the exact URL of the source.
Direct copying and pasting
is not allowed.
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Week |
Topics |
Due Date/Comments |
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1 |
Solar System's Place in the Universe; Cosmology |
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2 |
Mechanics- Kepler, Newton, etc, EM Radiation, etc.;
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Report topics assigned and discussed |
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3 |
EM; Stellar Evolution |
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4 |
Stellar Evolution; Sun; Review |
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5 |
Exam 1; Basic
Properties and Remote Sensing; Solar System; Meteorites, Asteroids, and
Comets |
Exam 1 |
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6 |
Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets |
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7 |
Moon; Mercury |
Submit report drafts |
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8 |
Earth |
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9 |
Earth; Venus; Mars |
Report drafts returned with comments |
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10 |
Mars; Planets and Life; Review; Exam 2 |
Exam 2 |
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11 |
Gas Giants; Jupiter and Saturn |
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12 |
Spring break |
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13 |
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto; Satellite Systems |
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14 |
Life in Other Planetary Systems; |
Report due |
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15 |
Life in Other Planetary Systems; Mars Meteorites; Review |
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16 |
Final Exam |
Final exam |
Lecture Topics
Overview of the Solar System and its Place in the
Universe
The Solar System's Organization and Dimensions
The Milky Way Galaxy
Other Galaxies
Cosmology:
the Origin, Structure, and Fate of the Universe
Cosmological theories and
Methodology
Fundamental Forces
The Expanding Universe and the Big Bang
Hubble's Law and the Age of the Universe
Mechanics:
The Men and their Theories
Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, Newton, Einstein
Video: Zero G
Basic Properties and Remote Sensing
Rocks and Minerals
Atoms and Isotopes, Properties of Light
Calculation: Wien's Law and Stefan-Boltzmann Law
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Spectral Analysis
The Doppler Effect
Telescopes
Stellar
Evolution
HR Diagrams and Main Sequence
Red Giants and the Chemicals of Life
Stellar Remnants
The Sun
Physical Properties
Solar Energy: Generation and Transport
Proton-Proton Chain
Surface Activity
Magnetism and the Sun
The Solar Activity Cycle
The Solar Wind
Exam 1
Studying the Solar System: Basic Properties and
Methodologies
Bulk Properties and Chemistry of the Planets
Rocks and Minerals
Mass, Size, and Density-Composition
Four types of matter
Origin and Classification of Rocks
Planetary Atmospheres-Reducing and Oxidizing
Meteorites: Remnants of Creation
Solar Nebula
Planetary Formation-Accretion and Fragmentation
Classification
Parent Bodies
Radioactive Dating
Asteroids
Discovery
Physical Properties
Families and Compositional Classes
Distribution: Main Belt, Trojan, Near-Earth
Methodology: Occultations, Spectroscopy, and Images
Computation: Collision Frequency
Comets
History
Origin: Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud
Physical Nature: Structural Components, Jets, etc.
Chemical Composition
The Moon
Appearance and Surface Features
Terrains: Highlands and Maria
Impact Basins
Craters: Process, Evolution, and Dating
Calculation: Impact Energies
Lunar Stratigraphy
Exploration: Robotic and Apollo Mission
Lunar Rocks: Breccias, Anorthosites, Basalts
Regolith
Volcanism
Interior and Magnetic Field
The Origin of the Moon
Mercury
Rotation-Radar Astronomy
Tides: Effect on Spin and Orbit
Geology: Craters, Ejecta, Scarps
Atmosphere
Interior and Magnetic Field
Origin: Protoplanets and Giant Impacts
Earth
Stages of Planetary Development
Evolution of the Atmosphere
CO2 and
Carbonate Rocks
The Nature of Life
The Origin of Terrestrial Life and Fossil Record
Geologic Ages, Extinction Events, K/T Boundary Event
Continental Drift-Evolution of the Theory
Crust: Moho, oceanic-basalt and continental granite
Wegener- continental outlines, centrifugal force,
Pangaea, problems-solid mantle, required forces
New evidence: continental plates, plastic upper
mantle, mid-ocean ridges, seafloor spreading-echo sounding, relative dating
Plate tectonics: crustal plates, convection in
mantle, rift zones, faults- transform boundaries, volcanism, divergent-rift
zones and convergent boundaries-subduction zones folded mountain ranges
Confirmation: paleomagnetism, hotspots, sediment
distribution, fossils, etc.
Seismology:
Seismic waves, P and S, wave properties, velocity,
transformed waves, surface waves-R and L, earthquake coda
Measurement of waves: seismographs-Milne, location of
epicenter, Richter- Wood-Anderson seismograph, Richter magnitude scale Ms,
seismic moment Mw, dilatometer, strong-motion accelerometer
Sources:
Volcanic, fault and elastic rebound, fault rupture progression,
1906 San Francisco earthquake, Landers earthquake, asperities, deep focus
earthquakes
Earth's interior structure:
Inner and outer cores revealed by waves reflected and
refracted from internal structural boundaries, main shells of Earth's interior.
San Andreas fault-history and future
Venus
Appearance and Basic Properties
Spacecraft Exploration
Atmosphere-structure and greenhouse effect
Clouds
Large-scale surface features
Geology:
Craters and tectonics, volcanoes, coronae
Geological history
The Surface of Venus- landers and images
Mars
Appearance and Bulk Properties
Spacecraft Exploration
The Martian Surface
Craters and Chronology
Volcanoes and Tectonic Features
Martian Canyons and Channels
Polar Regions
Atmosphere
Weather
Water
Satellites
Planets and Life
Extrapolating from Earth to Mars
Atmospheric Composition
Search for Life on Mars
Viking Biology Experiments: GEX, LR, and PR
Active Soil
Atmospheres of Earth and Mars
Isotopes and Noble Gasses
Water on Mars - Missing Atmosphere
Impacts and Atmospheric Erosion
Video: Red Planet
Exam 2
Review of
the Gas Giant Planets
Origin and Basic Physical Properties
Jupiter and
Saturn
Appearance and Basic Properties
Spacecraft Exploration-Voyager and Galileo Missions
Internal Structure-Metallic Hydrogen, Ice and Rock
Cores
Interior Energy
Atmospheric Composition and Structure
Galileo Jupiter Probe Results
Weather:
Wind Patterns and Circulation
Atmospheric Features-Ovals, Great Red Spot, Hot Spots
Seasons
Cloud Chemistry
Interior Energy Source
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
Discoveries of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
Appearance and Basic Properties
Spacecraft Exploration
Atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune-Structure and
Composition
Wind Patterns and Circulation
Magnetic
Field-Magnetospheres
Discovery of Pluto and Charon
Satellite Systems
Regular and Irregular: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune
Cratering Rates and Retention Ages
Callisto and Ganymede-Geology-Surface and Interior
Internal Activity
Europa and Io-Geology-Surface and Interior
Internal Activity
Volcanoes and Hot Spots of Io
Energy Sources
Titan Triton, and Pluto
Titan: Enigmatic Atmosphere
Atmospheric Models-Composition, Evolution, and Origin
Titan's Surface
Triton: Basic Data, Voyager Views, Thin Atmosphere,
and Surface Activity
Bulk Properties
Pluto and Charon: Discovery
Determining Pluto's Mass
Surface and Atmosphere
Small Satellites
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune: surface
features and chemical composition
Planetary Rings
Jupiter
Saturn: Particles, Overview, Inner, A and B, F, and
Others
Uranus: Discovery, Occultations, Voyager Observations
Neptune: Discovery, Voyager 2, Forward Scattering
Satellite-Ring Interactions-waves, Shepherd
Satellites Origin, Embedded Satellites, Resonance
Origin-Roche Limit and Calculation, Satellite Breakup
Solar System Origin
Solar Nebula-Gravitational Collapse of Interstellar
Cloud
Angular Momentum, Magnetic Braking, Solar Wind
Evolution of the Disk; Condensation, Aggregation,
Accretion-Planetesimals, and Dissipation
Impacts
Giant Planets and their Satellites
Rings
The
following topics will be covered only if time allows:
The Search for Planets of Other Stars
Life in Other Planetary Systems
Detection and Communication Issues
Searches: SETI and others
Mars Meteorites
Digital
Presentation- SNC's
Video: Search for Alien Planets
Final Exam