Course intro
	hand out syllabus
	talk about format
	intro to observations, ground and space
	quick pictorial tour (3D)
	some terminology
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Absolute Age/Origins/Sun
	radioactive decay
	big bang
	chemical reactions, elements
	age exercise (In-class exercise: Origins)
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Origins of the solar system .
	star formation, interstellar gas and dust (temperature, density)
	solar nebula
	age of solar system/universe
	magnetic fields
	rotation/angular momentum
	protoplanetary disks (proplyds)
	stellar wind
	condensation/temperatures
	observational constraints; In-class exercise, Orbits and Motions
	accretion of planetesimals
	terrestrial planets
	asteroid belt?
	Jovian planets
	planetesimals beyond
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Moon
	overall characteristics
	interior structure
	surface characteristics
	remote sensing/spectra intro
	regolith
	highlands
	lowlands
	craters and cratering
	lunar timescale
	moon mapping exercise; In-class exercise, Mapping on the Moon
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Orbits and motions
	early observations, Tycho and Kepler
	elliptical motion
	area/time: fastest at perihelion
	period/distance: slower/farther
	Newton; position, velocity, and acceleration
	motion straight line unless a force acts
	force proportional to mass and acceleration
	equal and opposite actions (reflex)
	circular motions and acceleration
	mass of system from period and distance
	motion resonances
	n-body perturbations
	eclipses
	mass exercise — determine mass from an orbit
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Bulk density and temperature .
	sources of heat and cooling
	derivation of equilibrium temperature
	equilibrium temperature exercise (ic4)
	clues from density
	interior/surface density comparison
	In-class exercise, Density and Temperature
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transient atmospheres .
	sources and sinks
	ballistic particles “bounce” (non-traditional “gas”)
	potential sources (photons, impacts, comets)
	atmosphere as source for polar deposits?
	permanent ice caps on Mercury/Moon
	composition (H/He/O/Na/K/Ar)
	discussion of impact mechanisms (mini-exercise)
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Mercury geology
	overall characteristics
	polar deposits
	magnetic field
	terrains
	chemistry
	tectonics
	geologic history
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Venus geology
	overall characteristics
	history of exploration
	eolian forms
	volcanism
	geologic units
	impact craters
	tectonics
	internal structure
	In-class exercise, Venus Imaging
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Earth geology/plate tectonics
	evidence for life (from space)
	interior structure
	seismology
	plate tectonics
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Venus atmosphere
	opaque to outside observer
	extreme conditions
	scale height
	wind characteristics/direction
	composition
	temperature profile
	greenhouse effect
	clouds
	super-rotation
	atmospheres in comparison (ic6)
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Earth atmosphere
	composition
	gas reservoirs
	origins (D/H)
	temperature profile
	clouds
	circulation
	life influence
	evolution/climatic change
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Mars
	general characteristics
	rocks
	meteorites
	impact craters
	volcanism
	tectonics
	water
	interior
	geologic time tables
	In-class exercise, Crater Counting on Mars
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Mars atmosphere .
	composition
	temperature profile
	obliquity oscillation
	planetary cooling
	climate change
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Icy satellites
	bulk densities
	tidal friction/heat
	active volcanoes
	spectroscopy exercise (ic8)
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Jupiter .
	overview of Gas Giants — no solid surface!
	context of ice condensation
	internal heat
	composition
	oblateness
	pressure/hydrostatic equilibrium
	Galileo probe/comet crash exercise (ic9)
	cloud structures banding/spots/storms
	circulation
	lightning
	temperature structure
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Saturn .
	internal heat
	composition
	oblateness
	pressure
	cloud structures
	spots/storms
	ring shadowing
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Rings
	Roche limits (mini-exercise)
	Keplerian particle swarm
	gaps/resonances
	density waves
	shepherding
	moons as sources (esp. Jupiter)
	composition
	origins?
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Uranus
	odd obliquity
	heat budget/temperature
	ring discovery by occultation
	cloud structures
	composition/coloration
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Neptune
	ring arcs
	cloud structures
	dark spots/transience
	composition
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Pluto/Charon
	elliptical, inclined orbit
	transient atmosphere
	mass
	composition/albedo
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Kuiper Belt
	populations/inventory
	colors
	spectra/composition
	as source for SPC
	exercise ??? (ic10)
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Comets .
	history/formation
	basic anatomy
	composition/abundances
	isotope ratios
	populations
	dynamics/meteor showers
	solar wind interactions
	source for IDPs?
	exercise ??? (ic11)
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Asteroids .
	formation/planetesimals?
	populations
	size comparisons
	resonances
	spectra/types
	dynamics/families
	composition
	porosity
	NEOs: what are they?
	sources for meteorites
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Meteorites
	classification
	populations
	show and tell
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Life .
	origins
	lake Vastok
	irradition of bacteria
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Extrasolar planetary systems
	recount formation
	observational techniques
	surprising results
	inventory
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This page was created by Darby Dyar and is maintained by Darby Dyar and Rebekah Robson-May. Last updated on 19 April, 2002.