Welcome to the course web
site for Astronomy 1102/1104, Our Solar System.
This website is your starting point for exploring Our Solar System! The past few decades have seen incredible advances in the exploration of our Solar System. In this course students learn about the current state and past evolution of the Sun and its family of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. The course emphasizes images and other data obtained from current and past NASA space missions and how these data provide insights about the important processes that have shaped the evolution of Solar System objects. We'll also discuss general astronomical concepts relevant to the study of the Solar System. We'll focus critically on developing an understanding of the Earth as a planetary body and discovering how studies of other planets and satellites influence models of the climatic, geologic, and biologic history of our home world. Other topics covered include energy production in stars, global warming, impact hazards, the search for life in the Solar System and beyond, and future missions.
Final Review Sessions:
The forcast is for clear skies tonight, so we will be opening the Fuertes Observatory from 9pm until 10:30pm. Dress warmly since temperatures will dip into the upper 30's F! Venus will be visible early in the evening, followed by Mars and
Saturn later in the evening. Don't forget to bring your assignment along so you can get it stamped for attendance. Be prepared to stay for at least a half hour - observations take time!
Fuertes Observatory Opening (April 13, 2012):
The forcast is for clear skies tonight, so we will be opening the Fuertes Observatory from 8pm till Midnight. Dress warmly since temperatures will dip into the upper 30's F! Venus and Jupiter will be visible early in the evening, followed by Mars and Saturn later in the evening. Don't forget to bring your assignment along so you can get it stamped for attendance.
Prelim #3 Review Sessions:
Last modified 13 April, 2012.