Course Outline: AST 111 is a modern survey of the solar system
(Sun, planets, satellites, small bodies like asteroids, comets, etc.)
which will cover the physics and some of the chemistry related to the
formation and evolution of these objects, and the interpretation of
observations (and sometimes laboratory samples) of these celestial
bodies from ground-based telescopes, and robotic and manned
spacecraft. Most of the material will be made available through
powerpoint lectures (which I will make available periodically so that
you can write notes on the printouts in class) and handouts. Students
will need the textbook Worlds Apart by Consolmagno & Schaefer
as a reference, however four other books will be on reserve at the POA
library (see below). Grading will be based on ~10 homework
assignments, 2 midterm exams, a final exam, and a project. Here is a
week-by-week schedule of lecture topics and reading.
Lectures:
#21: Nov 12 PDF, PPT
#22: Nov 17 PDF, PPT
#23: Nov 19 PDF, PPT
Homework: HW#9 due Tuesday 24 Nov (not change in deadline)
(Observing project is due Tuesday 24 Nov) HW#10 due Tuesday 8 Dec
(2nd midterm will be Thursday 10 Dec)
