ESC 1021

Planetary Astronomy

Course Outline
 

Instructor: Philip S. Harrington 

Office: 344-5669

Textbook (required): Voyages Through the Universe, A. Fraknoi, et al (Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing, 3rd edition)

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Procedures for Accomplishing These Objectives:

Student Requirements for Completion of Course

To pass this course successfully, each student must complete the following:

Grading Practices

The following grading practices will be adhered to throughout the semester:

Your grade will be determined as follows:
 
Class attendance/participation: 10% Homework/Lab assignments: 20%
Tests/Mid-Term: 30% Final exam: 20%
Term project: 20% TOTAL: 100%

Extra Credit:  You can earn between one and four extra-credit points toward your final grade for the following. (A maximum of 8 points extra credit per student will be permitted.)

Course Schedule

 

Week

Date

Topic

Notes

1

9/6

Introduction to course

Chapter 1: Observing the Sky: The Birth of Astronomy (TXT  PDF)

 

 

9/13

Rosh Hashanah

No class

2

9/20

Chapter 2: Orbits  (TXT  PDF)

 

3

9/27

Chapter 3: Earth, Moon, and Sky  (TXT  PDF)

Term project assigned

4

10/4

Chapter 6: Introduction to the Solar System  (TXT  PDF)

Test #1 (Ch 1,2,3)

Term project topic due

5

10/11

Chapter 8: The Moon & Mercury (TXT  PDF)

 

6

10/18

Chapter 9: Venus & Mars (TXT  PDF)

 

7

10/25

In lieu of class: Field assignment to Cradle of Aviation Museum

No class

Click here for details

8

11/1

Chapter 10: Giant Planets (TXT  PDF)

Mid-Term Exam (thru Ch 9)

9

11/8

Chapter 10: Giant Planets

 

10

11/15

Chapter 11: Rings, Moons, and Pluto (TXT  PDF)

Cradle of Aviation Museum trip report due

 

11/22

No class

11

11/29

Test #3 (Ch 10,11)

Term project due  

12

12/6

Chapter 12: Comets and Asteroids  (TXT  PDF)

Chapter 13: Meteors, Meteorites, and the Formation of the Solar System  (TXT  PDF)

Chapter 14: The Sun  (TXT  PDF)

 

13

12/11 (Tuesday!)

Review for final exam

 

14

12/13

Final exam

 

 

 

 

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