ASTRONOMY 1210 (O'CONNELL) SPRING 2009

INTRODUCTION TO THE SKY AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The dates below represent the approximate start of each topic and reading assignment. All dates are tentative, except for the final exam. Assignments are given in brackets; numbers refer to chapters in The Cosmic Perspective by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit (5th edition, 2008). There will be a special (outside of regular class-time) review session covering topics requested by the class before each exam (not listed).

1/15: First class meeting: Orientation
1/20: Class cancelled for Presidential Inauguration
1/22: Introduction. Astronomy as a science. Scale of the universe in space and time. The night sky. Prehistoric astronomy. [CH 1, 2, 3.1; Supplement I]
2/10: Discovery of the Solar System. Early scientific astronomy. Copernicus to Newton. Gravity and planetary orbits. [CH 3, 4]
2/19: 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 5, 6]
FIRST MIDTERM EXAM: Tuesday, 24 February Coverage: Introduction through EM spectrum.
[Spring Break: 2 - 6 March]
3/10: Origin of the Solar System. Inventory & systematics of the solar system. Formation of the solar system. Discovery of other planetary systems. [CH 7, 8, 13]
3/17: 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 9, 10]
3/24: The Terrestrial Planets. Mercury, Venus, Mars. Evolution of terrestrial atmospheres. The Magellan, Viking, Pathfinder, & Rover missions. [CH 9, 10]
SECOND MIDTERM EXAM: Tuesday, 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, 10 April
4/14: The Outer Planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. The Voyager, Galileo, & Cassini missions. Comet impact on Jupiter. Kuiper Belt Objects. [CH 11, 12.3]
4/21: Interplanetary Matter. Asteroids, comets, meteors. Collisions with Earth and biological extinctions. [CH 12]
Deadline for all extra credit assignments: Friday, 24 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 13, 24]
Last Constellation Quiz: Tuesday, 28 April
FINAL EXAM: Saturday, May 2, 2009 2 - 4 PM

SKY EVENTS THIS SEMESTER

Sky overhead at 7 PM on 27 February 2009; from Heavens Above.

• 1/01: Venus is bright in the evening sky through March
  
• 1/04: 7 PM EST: Earth at perihelion (nearest Sun)
  
• 1/04: Mercury at greatest distance (18^o) from sunset horizon
  
• 1/11: Moon full
  
• 1/14: Venus at greatest distance (47^o) from sunset horizon
  
• 1/26: Moon new
  
• 1/26: Annular eclipse of Sun (visible from Indian Ocean)
  
• 2/09: Moon full
  
• 2/09: Penumbral eclipse of Moon (visible from south Pacific Ocean)
  
• 2/13: Mercury at greatest distance (26^o) from sunrise horizon
• 2/25: Moon new
  
• 3/08: Daylight Savings Time begins (move clocks ahead one hour)
  
• 3/08: Saturn at opposition (nearest Earth, up all night)
  
• 3/11: Moon full
  
• 3/20: 7:45 AM EDT: Vernal equinox (Sun crosses celestial equator moving north; day/night equal)
  
• 3/26: Moon new
  
• 4/09: Moon full
  
• 4/24: Moon new

• 7/22: 2:35 Universal Time, total eclipse of Sun. Longest (6^m39^s) for next 23 years. Visible from China through central Pacific Ocean.
  

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