ASTRONOMY 121 (O'CONNELL) SPRING 2008

INTRODUCTION TO THE SKY AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The dates below represent the approximate start of each topic and reading assignment. Assignments are given in brackets and refer to chapters in Foundations of Astronomy by Michael Seeds (9th ed). There will be a special (outside of regular class-time) review session covering topics requested by the class before each exam.

1/23: Introduction. Astronomy as a science. Scale of the universe in space and time. The night sky. Prehistoric astronomy. [CH 1, 2, 3, 4.1; Supplement I]
2/11: Discovery of the Solar System. Early scientific astronomy. Copernicus to Newton. Gravity and planetary orbits. [CH 4, 5]
2/20: Tools for Modern Astronomy. Modern science and technology. The nature of light. The electromagnetic spectrum. Atomic structure. Spectroscopy. Telescopes. The space program and space astronomy. [Supplements II, III; Optional: CH 6, 7]
FIRST MIDTERM EXAM: Monday, 25 February Coverage: Introduction through EM spectrum.
3/10: Origin of the Solar System. Inventory & systematics of the solar system. Formation of the solar system. Discovery of other planetary systems. [CH 19]
[Spring Break: 3 - 7 March]
3/12: Earth and Moon. Earth as a planet. Earth's age, composition, interior. The Apollo missions. The lunar surface. The violent formation and early history of the Moon. [CH 20, 21.1]
3/24: The Terrestrial Planets. Mercury, Venus, Mars. Evolution of terrestrial atmospheres. The Magellan, Viking, Pathfinder, & Rover missions. [CH 21.2, 22]
SECOND MIDTERM EXAM: Monday, 7 April Coverage: spectroscopy through Mars.
4/9:Lowell's Legacy: ET's. Life on Mars? "War of the Worlds". UFO's. [War of the Worlds]
Deadline for extra credit assignments with full credit: Friday, 11 April
4/16: The Outer Planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. The Voyager, Galileo, & Cassini missions. Comet impact on Jupiter. [CH 23, 24]
4/21: Interplanetary Matter. Asteroids, comets, meteors. Collisions with Earth and biological extinctions. [CH 25]
Deadline for all extra credit assignments: Friday, 25 April, 5 PM
4/28: Life in the Universe. Evolution of life on Earth. Other biospheres in the solar system? In the galaxy? Search for alien civilizations. [CH 26]
Last Constellation Quiz: Tuesday, 29 April
FINAL EXAM: Friday, 9 May, 2 - 4 PM

SKY EVENTS THIS SEMESTER

Southwestern sky view on evening of 28 March 08, from Heavens Above.

• 1/01: Mars is bright and high in the evening sky through April
  
• 1/01: Venus is bright in the dawn sky through March
  
• 1/03: 7 PM EST: Earth at perihelion (nearest Sun)
  
• 1/08: Moon new
  
• 1/22: Moon full
  
• 1/22: Mercury at greatest distance (18^o) from sunset horizon
  
• 2/01: Venus-Jupiter conjunction (0.6^o apart), in dawn sky
  
• 2/07: Moon new
  
• 2/20: Moon full
  
• 2/20: Total eclipse of Moon; max eclipse at 10:26 PM EST
  
• 2/24: Saturn at opposition (nearest Earth, up all night)
  
• 2/29: Leap day
  
• 3/03: Mercury at greatest distance (27^o) from sunrise horizon
  
• 3/07: Moon new
  
• 3/09: Daylight Savings Time begins (move clocks ahead one hour)
  
• 3/20: 12:48 AM EDT: Vernal equinox (Sun crosses celestial equator moving north; day/night equal)
  
• 3/21: Moon full
  
• 3/24: Venus-Mercury conjunction (1^o apart) in dawn sky
  
• 4/06: Moon new
  
• 4/20: Moon full
  
• 5/05: Moon new
  

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