1

Aug. 27

  General Introduction and Overview of the Course, and Information.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect01.pdf
  Reading: Ch.1.

2

Aug. 29

  Distance scales in the Universe - Distance measurements - Lookback Time.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect02.pdf
  Reading: Ch.1.

3

Sep. 3

  Patterns in the Night Sky.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect03.pdf
  Reading: Ch.2.1.

4

Sep. 5

  Planetary Motions on the Sky - Precessions of the Earth's axis - Understanding the seasons. Mini group project #1.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect04.pdf
  Reading: Ch.2.2, 2.4

5

Sep. 10

  The Phases of the Moon - Solar and Lunar Eclipses.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect05.pdf
  Reading: Ch.2.3.

6

Sep. 12

  A brief history of Astronomy in ancient times: The Greek geocentric model - the Copernican Revolution - Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect06.pdf.
  Reading: Ch.3

7

Sep. 17

  Newton's Laws of motion - The law of Gravity
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect07.pdf
  Reading: Ch.4.1, 4.2, 4.4.

8

Sep. 19

  Gravitational Acceleration - Mass and Weight - Orbital Velocity - Escape Velocity. Mini group project #2
  Lecture Notes for the Day Lect08.pdf
  Reading: Ch.4.5.

9

Sep. 24

  Newton's version of Kepler's Third law and various astrophysical applications. Midterm review.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect09.pdf
  Reading: Ch.4.5, and review for the midterm.

10

Sep. 26

  Quiz I

11

Oct. 1

  A tour of the Solar System.
  Lecture Notes for the Day Lect10.pdf
  Reading: Ch.7.1.

12

Oct. 3

  Patterns in the Solar System -- Formation of the Solar System: Spinning, Heating, Flattening. Mini group project #3.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect11.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 8.1, 8.2.

13

Oct. 8

  Formation of the Solar System: Two different types of planets - Small bodies, and exceptions to the rules.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect12.pdf
  Reading: Ch.8.2, 8.3.

14

Oct. 10

  Group Project I

Oct. 15

 Fall Break

15

Oct. 17

  Planetary Geology: The interiors of Planets - Heating and Cooling processes in a planet.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect13.pdf
  Reading: Ch.9.1.

16

Oct. 22

  Shaping Planetary Surfaces: Volcanism - Impact Cratering. Mini group project #4.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect14.pdf
  Reading: Ch.9.2.

17

Oct. 24

  Shaping Planetary Surfaces: Tectonics - Erosion. Light: The Electromagnetic Spectrum.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect15.pdf
  Reading: Ch.9.2, 5.1.

18

Oct. 29

  Light and its Interaction with matter - Basic properties of matter - Emission, Absorption and Continuum spectra.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect16.pdf
  Reading: 5.2, 5.3 till pag.156.

19

Oct. 31

  Quiz II

20

Nov. 5

  Planetary Atmospheres: Basics - The concept of gas pressure. The Greenhouse effect. Mini group project #5.
  Lecture Notes for the Day Lect17.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 10.1

21

Nov. 7

  Planetary Atmospheres: Structure of the Earth's atmosphere - Comparison with Mars and Venus.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect18.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5.

22

Nov. 12

  The unique atmosphere of the Earth - Global Warming - Open discussion.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect19.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 10.6.

23

Nov. 14

  The Jovian Planets: main properties, structure and atmospheres.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect20.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 11.1.

24

Nov. 19

  Moons of the Jovian Planets - Io and Europa closeups - Introduction to exoplanets. The Doppler effect.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect21.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 11.2, 13.1

25

Nov. 21

  Exoplanets: Detection Methods - Properties of exoplanets, and their formation.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect22.pdf
  Reading: Ch. 13.

26

Nov. 26

  Quiz III

Nov. 28

 Thanksgiving Break

27

Dec. 3

  General Review of the Course.
  Lecture Notes for the Day: final_review.pdf
  Reading/Review: All the chapters indicated in the review.

28

Dec. 5

  Group Project II