1

Aug. 23

Overview of the course and basic information. Our place in the Universe. Astronomical units. Reading: Bennet Ch.1.

2

Aug. 25

The local sky and coordinate systems. The motion of stars on the sky. The seasons. Sidereal day vs solar day. Reading: Bennet Ch.2, S1.

3

Aug. 30

Lunar phases - Eclipses. History of Astronomy. Kepler's laws. Reading: Bennet Ch.2, S1, Ch.3.

4

Sep. 1

History of Astronomy (cont.) - Newton's laws and the law of Gravity - Derivation of Kepler's third law. Readi\ ng: Bennet Ch.3, Eales Ch.6.1.

5

Sep. 6

Derivation of Kepler's laws and general properties of bound orbits. Group project #1. Reading: Eales Ch.6.1, Appendix B.

6

Sep. 8

Tides and Tidal dissipation - Resonances. Reading: Eales Ch. 6.2, 6.3, Bennet Ch.4.

7

Sep. 13

Ligh as information bearer: interpreting spectra. Energy flux, albedo and planet temperatures. Reading: Bennet Ch. 5.

8

Sep. 15

The Sun: Distance measurement - Composition - Stability - Fusion - Internal structure - Sunspots- Flares and coronal mass ejections. Reading: Bennet at al. Ch.14.1,14.2,14.3.

9

Sep. 20

  Midterm I

10

Sep. 22

Overview of the Solar System. Hydrostatic equilibrium. Reading: Eales Ch1., Bennett et al. Ch. 7.

11

Sep. 27

Surfaces of terrestrial planets: Types of rocks - Plate Tectonics - Impact cratering. Groupt project #2 (as practice problem). Reading: Eales: Ch.3; Bennett et al. Ch.9.

12

Sep. 29

Surfaces of Terrestrial Planets and Moons: Moon, Mercury and Venus. Reading: Eales Ch.3, Bennet et al. Ch. 9.

13

Oct. 4

Surfaces of Terrestrial Planets and Moons: Venus (cont.), Mars and Earth. Reading: Eales Ch.3; Bennet et al. Ch.9.

14

Oct. 6

Interior of terrestrial planets: Inferring interior properties. Heating and cooling. Reading: Eales Ch.3,4; Bennet et al. Ch. 9,11.

Oct. 11

 Fall Break

15

Oct. 13

Planetary Interiors: Terrestrial planets (cont.) and Jovian Planets. Reading: Eales, Ch.4; Bennet et al. Ch. 11.

16

Oct. 18

Planetary Atmospheres: General features; the atmosphere of Earth. Student's presentation. Reading: Eales Ch.5; Bennett at al. Ch. 10.

17

Oct. 20

Planetary Atmosphere: The atmospheres of Mars and Venus and of the Jovian planets. Reading: Eales Ch.5; Bennett at al. Ch. 10.

18

Oct. 25

Roche limit and Hill sphere. The moons of Jupiter. Group project #3. Reading: Bennett et al. Ch. 11.

19

Oct. 27

The moons of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Rings. Group project #4. Reading: Bennett et al. Ch. 11.

20

Nov. 1

Asteroids. Reading: Eales Ch.7; Bennet et al. Ch. 12.

21

Nov. 3

  Midterm II

22

Nov. 8

Asteroids (cont.) Comets. Pluto and the Kuiper belt. Reading: Eales Ch.7; Bennet et al. Ch. 12

23

Nov. 10

Formation of the Solar System: nebular theory, protoplanetary disks, angular momentum losses. Student presentation. Group project #5. Reading: Eales, Ch.6; Bennet et al. Ch.6.

24

Nov. 15

Formation of the Solar System: two types of planets; disk structure; exceptions to the rules. Student presentation. Reading: Eales, Ch.6; Bennet et al. Ch.6.

25

Nov. 17

Exoplanets. Detection methods: Astrometry and Doppler techniques. Two students' presentations. Reading: Eales, Ch. 2; Bennett et al. Ch. 13

26

Nov. 22

Exoplanets. Detection methods: Doppler technique (cont.) and Transit technique. Two students' presentations. Reading: Eales, Ch. 2; Bennett et al. Ch. 13.

Nov. 24

 Thanksgiving Break

27

Nov. 29

Exoplanets. Detection methods: Direct imaging and microlensing technique.Two students' presentations. Reading:Eales, Ch. 2; Bennett et al. Ch. 13

28

Dec. 1