Untitled document
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
1. Define the astronomical unit and state each planet's distance from the
sun in astronomical units.
2. Describe planetary rotation, revolution, and retrograde motion.
3. Apply the definitions of density, volume, and mass to describe the
characteristics of Jovian and Terrestrial planets.
4. Describe the location and general physical properties of comets,
asteroids, planets, and stars.
5. State the major contributions to astronomy made by Aristarchus,
Erathosthenes, Eudoxus, and Ptolemy.
6. Demonstrate how the Ptolemaic model of the solar system accounts for
the retrograde motion of the planets.
7. Calculate a planet's mass by using Kepler's 3rd law.
8. Calculate your weight on any planet by using Newton's law of gravity.
9. Describe the difference between the quantum and wave models of light.
10. Calculate a telescope's magnification and light gathering power.
11. Write an essay detailing how a planet's dark line spectrum allows
astronomers to determine the chemical composition of its atmosphere.
12. Explain how to choose the optimum binocular for astronomical viewing
13. Describe the difference between the evolutionary and catastrophic
model of the origin of the solar system.
14. Define condensation and accretion in the context of planetary
formation.
15. Describe the Kant and LaPlace nebular hypothesis.
16. Construct and label a diagram which describes the anatomy of a comet.
17. Write an essay describing the relationship between comets and meteor
showers.
18. Construct and label a diagram which explains why meteor showers are
best observed after midnight.
19. State the date of the five best meteor showers and how many meteors
can be seen per hour for each shower.
20. Write an essay documenting the basis for classifying asteroids into 4
families.
21. List the major climatic effects that would occur after a major
asteroid impact on earth.
22. Explain the compositional differences between iron, stone, stony-iron,
and carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.
23. Describe the visual appearance and location of the sun's chromosphere,
prominences, and corona.
24. Memorize the three step reaction series in the proton-proton cycle of
nuclear fusion.
25. Describe how the sun's interior structure produces a granulated
appearance on the sun's photosphere.
26. Draw and label a "butterfly" diagram to describe the solar sunspot
cycle.
27. Construct a diagram that correctly explains why the moon goes through
a cycle of phases.
28. Construct a diagram which reveals the physical circumstances that
produce both lunar and solar eclipses.
29. Explain how the moon's gravity produces two tidal bulges of earth, one
facing the moon, and one facing away from the moon.
30. Describe the three major "geologic" ages in lunar history.
31. Write an essay that contrasts and compares moonrocks with earthrocks.
32. Recall four different Apollo experiments conducted on the lunar
surface and what information astronomers have gained from them.
33. Review the steps in how the earth's atmosphere evolved from a reducing
atmosphere to an oxidation atmosphere.
34. Describe the greenhouse effect and how it accounts for the difference
in climate between Venus and the earth.
35. Explain how plate tectonics forms ocean ridges, ocean trenches, island
arcs, and mountain ranges.
36. Explain how the physical characteristics of water make it an ideal
medium for the chemical reactions of carbon chemistry and life.
37. Contrast the difference between craters on the moon and craters on
Mercury.
38. Construct a diagram that explains why Venus and Mercury go through a
complete cycle of phases as seen from earth based telescopes.
39. Describe the major surface features found on Venus that were revealed
by the Magellan and Pioneer Venus spacecraft.
40. Explain how a slight difference in distance from the sun accounts for
the radically different atmospheric compositions of Venus and earth.
41. Refute Percival Lowell's arguments for the existence of intelligent
life on Mars.
42. Write an essay describing the 3 Viking spacecraft experiments designed
to detect life on the surface of Mars.
43. Explain how geologists account for the enormous size of Martian
volcanoes.
44. Review the evidence collected that shows Mars once had shallow seas
and rivers of water.
45. Write an essay describing why astronomers feel Io and Titan may have
surface conditions that are favorable for the development of life.
46. State Roche's limit and how it accounts for the existence of planetary
ring systems.
47. Describe and contrast the major surface features found on the Galilean
satellites of Jupiter.
48. Draw a diagram which reveals the interior structure of Jupiter and
Saturn.
49. Write an essay which documents the role of Gauss, Adams, Leverrier,
and Galle in discovering the planet Neptune.
50. Write an essay which documents the astronomical contributions made by
Caroline and William Herschel.
51. Describe the similarities in the interior structure, magnetospheres,
and atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus.
52. Write an essay which documents the contributions made by Percival
Lowell and Clyde Tombaugh in discovering the planet Pluto.
53. Explain why many astronomers now feel Pluto should be considered a
planet.
Untitled document
I. Overview of the solar system
A. Distance scales
B. Jovian planets
C. Terrestrial planets
D. Planetary motions
E. Planetary volumes and densities
II. History of astronomy
A. Greek models of the cosmos
B. Heliocentric solar systems
C. The Copernican revolution
D. Newtonian laws of motion
E. Newtonian gravitation
III. Light and telescopes
A. The electromagnetic spectrum
B. Telescope optical designs
C. Telescope powers
D. Binoculars
E. Dark line spectra
IV. Origin of the solar system
A. Catastrophic models
B. Evolutionary models
C. Nebular hypothesis
D. Condensation-accretion model
E. Evidence for condensation and accretion
V. Comets and meteor showers
A. Anatomy of a comet
B. Cometary orbits
C. Great comets in history
D. Comet-meteor relationships
E. Observing meteor showers
VI. Asteroids and meteorites
A. Asteroid families
B. Impact cratering
C. Impacts and dinosaur extinction
D. Meteorite classification
E. Meteorite finds and falls
VII. The sun
A. Solar interior
B. Nuclear fusion
C. Photosphere and sunspots
D. Solar atmosphere
E. Sun and earth seasons
VIII. Earth-moon relationships
A. Tides
B. Eclipses
C. Lunar phases
D. Lunar and solar calendars
E. Dynamics of the moon's orbit
IX. The moon
A. Surface features
B. Interior structure
C. "Geologic" history
D. Apollo program
E. Moonrocks
X. Earth
A. Origin of the earth's atmosphere
B. Plate tectonics
C. Erosional landforms
D. Water-life relationships
E. Gaia hypothesis
XI. Mercury and Venus
A. Phases of Mercury and Venus
B. Atmosphere of Venus
C. Surface features of Venus
D. Surface features of Mercury
E. Carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect
XII. Mars
A. Canals and historical observations
B. Mariner spacecraft
C. Viking landers
D. Surface features
E. Evidence for water and life
XIII. Jupiter and Saturn
A. Galilean satellites
B. Titan
C. Planetary ring systems
D. Minor satellites
E. Jupiter's interior structure and composition
IX. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
A. Discoveries of each of these three worlds
B. Interior structure of each of these three worlds
C. Miranda
D. Triton
E. Charon
