1 / 24

PTYS/ASTR 206 Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration

PTYS/ASTR 206 Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration. Course Vitals. Photo by amateur Wesley Higgins. Location/Time Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM Kuiper Space Sciences 308 Instructor Joe Giacalone , KSS 431, 626-8365 giacalon@lpl.arizona.edu Teaching Assistants

fineen
Download Presentation

PTYS/ASTR 206 Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. PTYS/ASTR 206Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  2. Course Vitals Photo by amateur Wesley Higgins • Location/Time • Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM • Kuiper Space Sciences 308 • Instructor • Joe Giacalone, KSS 431, 626-8365 • giacalon@lpl.arizona.edu • Teaching Assistants • Catherine Elder • cmelder@lpl.arizona.edu • Youngmin JeongAhn • jeongahn@lpl.arizona.edu • Course Homepage http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/undergrad/classes/spring2012/Giacalone_206-1 / PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  3. What is the motivation for this class – what is it about? • There have been 3 major revolutions in planetary science • Greek Philosophy (500 BC-200 AD) • Copernican Revolution (1500-1700 AD) • Age of spacecraft (1960-present) • The Solar system is very accessible to detailed examination • We are currently in the Golden Age of Planetary Exploration PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  4. Why study the solar system? • Importance to Earth and its inhabitants • we must understand the environment in which we live to understand how to survive • Importance for understanding the origin of life • Subject of many research projects • Many basic properties are a mystery • How did Earth get its water? • Did Mars once have oceans of water and a thick atmosphere? • How thick is the ice crust of Europa? • Why does the number of spots on the Sun go up and down on an 11-year cycle?

  5. Course Vitals (cont.) • Prerequisites: • Successful completion of two Tier 1 NATS courses • Familiarity with simple math tools (algebra, trig, units) • Willingness to solve problems related to physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy, and biology • Textbook (required): • Universe: The Solar System:(4th edition) by Freedman, Geller, and Kaufmann • Exam and homework questions will be based partly on material in the textbook. • CD containing Starry Night Enthusiast software will be useful PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  6. Emphasis • This may possibly be your last science class ! • But not the last time you will encounter science • Our Focus will be on scientific UNDERSTANDING of the basic physical processes at work in the solar system • And how they help us relate the planets to one another and to Earth PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  7. Course Vitals (cont.) • In the classroom • Use common sense and courtesy • Turn cell phones and other communication devices off • Laptops ok … for taking notes! • No food or drink allowed in the lecture hall (except bottled water). • Constructive participation is strongly encouraged (feel free to ask questions – please!!). • Outside the class • Do the reading assignments! • Start homework assignments early! • Be careful of Academic Integrity. • If you are having difficulty with the material or anything else about the class, feel free to contact us – we are here to help! PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  8. Course Vitals (cont.) A statistical curve may be used, but the following general grading scale is used as a baseline grade (i.e. you are assured the grade indicated if your cumulative score falls within the given range) Factors considered in borderline cases: + positive performance gradient + in-class participation + participation in out-of-class activities + In order to be considered for moving up a grade, you MUST have handed in all of your homework! • > 89% A • 78–88% B • 67-77% C • 56-66% D • < 55% E Grading Scale PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  9. Course vitals (cont.) • 15% Best of 2 mid-term exams • 15% Larger of the following ... • Lowest mid-term exam score • Avg. of two highest quiz scores • 20% Final exam • 25% Homework • 5% In-class activities • 10% Class Project 1 • 10% Class Project 2 Grading Breakdown Active Region on the Sun PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  10. Course Vitals (cont.) • Course Assignments • 2 in-class, closed book exams + a final exam • In-class activities • About ½ will be graded (the ones not graded will still be recorded as “assignment completed” which is better than not doing it!) • “Mission updates” • Quizzes • 3 announced in-class quizzes about 1 week prior to each exam • Homework • worth the most towards your final grade, will take the most time • You are encouraged to work together on homework, and in-class activities. • You MUST turn in your own (original) work • It is not acceptable to turn in work identical to that of another student (use your own words!) • Class Projects • Details to be discussed later PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  11. General list of topics to covered in this course • Planetary orbits, Ancient Planetary Astronomy, Imaging • Structure and Formation of the Solar System • Fundamental Planetary Processes • Cratering,Surfaces, Interiors,Atmospheres • A detailed look at each planet, and other objects in the solar system (Sun, asteroids, comets, etc.) • Astrobiology -- Extraterrestrial life? • A more-detailed schedule is on the course website and in today’s handout Schematic of the greenhouse effect Schematic of plate tectonics

  12. Topical Lectures • There are often rapid advances made in Planetary Science because of accessibility of the solar system to humans • We will try to discuss these as they happen • Other topical subjects may include: • Global warming • Greenhouse effect • Asteroid and comet impacts • Water on Mars: Phoenix and HiRISE • Solar Storms and Space Weather • Cassini at Saturn • Messenger at Mercury • Is Pluto a planet? Phoenix lander UA-led mission to Mars: launched in August 2007 Tucson was the location for science operations

  13. HiRISE • UofA mission • on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter • Currently in orbit around Mars • Providing stunning images of the Martian surface PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  14. Cassini in orbit about the Saturn system PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  15. Cassini/VIMS image PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  16. Time-lapse movie of the Sun during the “Halloween” Storm period in 2003 The Sun is shielded from view in this movie by an “occulting” disk What is seen are stars, a planet, and the active solar “corona” PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  17. Scientific Notation • Shorter way to write very large/small numbers • Based on powers of 10 • Example: The speed of light is 300,000,000 m/s • Starting from the left, put the decimal point after the first non-zero digit, and count the digits to the end: • 300,000,000 m/s = 3.0 x 108 m/s • For small numbers, move the decimal point after the first non-zero digit, count the steps you moved and add a minus sign to the exponent: • 0.0059 m = 5.9 x 10-3 m PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  18. Scientific Notation • Multiplying: (2x103)x(4x102) • Multiply the coefficients: 2x4 = 8 • Add the exponents: (103) x (102) = (103+2) = (105) (2x103) x (4x102) = (8x105) • Dividing: (9x104)/(3x103) • Divide the coefficients: 9/3 = 3 • Subtract the exponents: (104) / (103) = (104-3) = (101) (9x104) / (3x103) = (3x101) PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  19. Unit Conversions • Example: How many feet are in 5 kilometers? (1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 3.28 ft) so Multiply by fractions that are equal to 1 and cancel: PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

  20. Today’s In-class activity: Who’s who • Name{pronunciation} • Year in school • Major • Where are you from? • What science courses have you taken in college? • Why are you taking this course? • How did you hear about this course? • What is your e-mail address ? • Please share something unique about yourself Sunset on Mars, taken by Imager for Mars Pathfinder, 1997. IMP was built in this building

  21. Announcements • Reading Assignment • Chapters 1 and 4 • The first homework assignment will be available for download from the course website (assigned) on Tuesday. It will be due 1/24) PTYS/ASTR206: Introduction

More Related