ASTRO 1102

Our Solar System

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2018-2019.

The past few decades have seen incredible advances in the exploration of our solar system. In this course students learn about the current state and past evolution of the Sun and its family of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. The course emphasizes images and other data obtained from current and past NASA space missions and how these data provide insights about the important processes that have shaped the evolution of solar system objects. General astronomical concepts relevant to the study of the solar system are also discussed. Critical focus is on developing an understanding of the Earth as a planetary body and discovering how studies of other planets and satellites influence models of the climatic, geologic, and biologic history of our home world. Other topics covered include energy production in stars, global warming, impact hazards, the search for life in the solar system and beyond, and future missions.

When Offered Spring.

Permission Note Enrollment limited to: 30 students per discussion section.
Forbidden Overlaps Forbidden Overlap: due to an overlap in content, students will not receive credit for both ASTRO 1102 and ASTRO 1104.

Distribution Category (PBS-AS)

Comments Co-meets with ASTRO 1104.

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