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AST 105: INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY: THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Course Timetable: Fall 2020
1 |
Aug. 25 |
General Introduction and Overview of the Course, and
Information. |
2 |
Aug. 27 |
Distance scales in the Universe - Distance measurements - Lookback Time. |
3 |
Sep. 1 |
Patterns in the Night Sky. |
4 |
Sep. 3 |
Planetary Motions on the Sky - Precessions of the Earth's axis - Understanding
the seasons. Mini group project #1. |
5 |
Sep. 8 |
The Phases of the Moon - Solar and Lunar Eclipses.
Lecture Notes for the Day: Lect05.pdf Reading: Ch.2.3. |
6 |
Sep. 10 |
A brief history of Astronomy in ancient times: The Greek geocentric model - the Copernican Revolution -
Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion.
|
7 |
Sep. 15 |
Newton's Laws of motion - The law of Gravity
|
8 |
Sep. 17 |
Gravitational Acceleration - Mass and Weight - Orbital Velocity - Escape Velocity. Mini group project #2
|
9 |
Sep. 22 |
Newton's version of Kepler's Third law and various astrophysical applications. Midterm review.
|
10 |
Sep. 24 |
Midterm I |
11 |
Sep. 29 |
A tour of the Solar System.
|
12 |
Oct. 1 |
Patterns in the Solar System -- Formation of the Solar System: Spinning, Heating, Flattening. Mini group project #3.
|
13 |
Oct. 6 |
Formation of the Solar System: Two different types of planets - Small bodies, and exceptions to the rules.
|
14 |
Oct. 8 |
Group Project I |
15 |
Oct. 13 |
Planetary Geology: The interiors of Planets - Heating and Cooling processes in a planet.
|
16 |
Oct. 15 |
Shaping Planetary Surfaces: Volcanism - Impact Cratering. Mini group project #4.
|
17 |
Oct. 20 |
Shaping Planetary Surfaces: Tectonics - Erosion. Light: The Electromagnetic Spectrum.
|
18 |
Oct. 22 |
Light and its Interaction with matter - Basic properties of matter - Emission, Absorption and Conti\
nuum spectra.
|
19 |
Oct. 27 |
Midterm II |
20 |
Oct. 29 |
Planetary Atmospheres: Basics - The concept of gas pressure. Mini group project #5.
|
21 |
Nov. 3 |
The Greenhouse effect. Planetary Atmospheres: Structure of the Earth's atmosphere - Comparison with Mars and Venus.
|
22 |
Nov. 5 |
The unique atmosphere of the Earth - Global Warming - Open discussion.
|
23 |
Nov. 10 |
The Jovian Planets: main properties, structure and atmospheres.
|
24 |
Nov. 12 |
Moons of the Jovian Planets - Io and Europa closeups - Introduction to exoplanets. The Doppler effect.
|
25 |
Nov. 17 |
Exoplanets: Detection Methods - Properties of exoplanets, and their formation.
|
26 |
Nov. 19 |
Midterm III |
|
Nov. 26 |
Thanksgiving Break |
|
Nov. 28 |
Thanksgiving Break |
27 |
Dec. 1 |
General Review of the Course.
|
28 |
Dec. 3 |
Group Project II |