PTYSASTR 206 Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration

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PTYS/ASTR 206Our Golden Age of Planetary
Exploration
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Course Vitals
Photo by amateur Wesley Higgins

• Location/Time
• Tuesdays and Thursdays
• 800 -915 AM
• Kuiper Space Sciences 308
• Instructor
• Joe Giacalone, KSS 431, 626-8365
  giacalon_at_lpl.arizona.edu
• Teaching Assistant
• Kat Volk
• kvolk_at_lpl.arizona.edu
• Course Homepage

http//www.lpl.arizona.edu/undergrad/classes/sprin
g2009/Giacalone_206-1 /
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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

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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?

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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 (3rd edition) by
  Freedman and Kaufmann
• Exam and homework questions will be based partly
  on material in the textbook.
• CD containing Starry Night Enthusiast software
  will be useful

The Solar System
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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

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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!

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Todays In-class activity Whos who

• Namepronunciation
• 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
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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!
Grading Scale

• gt 89 A
• 7888 B
• 67-77 C
• 56-66 D
• lt 55 E

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Course vitals (cont.)
Grading Breakdown

• 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

Active Region on the Sun
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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

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• Which is brighter (as seen from Earth)?
• The planet Venus
• The planet Mercury
• The full moon
• A sunspot

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The visible surface of the Sun seen in white
light showing many sunspots Lower right is a
closeup image of a sunspot
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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 todays handout

Schematic of the greenhouse effect
Schematic of plate tectonics


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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 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
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HiRISE

• UofA mission
• on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
• Currently in orbit around Mars
• Providing stunning images of the Martian surface

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Cassini in orbit about the Saturn system
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Cassini/VIMS image

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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
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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 1/27)
• Check out our class Facebook Group
• Spring 2009 -- Ptys 206 Giacalone
• Join the group to participate in discussion
  boards, get message reminders about homework
  thats due and exams that are coming up, and
  more!