Professor
John Lacy
Office: RLM 16.332
Hours: TTh 11-12 & after class
Phone: (512) 471-1469
email
Course Website
TA
Marty Bitner
TA
Steve Young
Office: RLM 9.312
Hours: Th 3-5
email
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Text
Lang, The Cambridge Guide to the Solar System
Prerequisite
AST 301 or equivalent introduction to astronomy.
Contents
We will discuss the planets, moons, and other bodies in the solar system. Our emphasis will be on how the solar
system bodies got to be like they are and why they differ as they do. This course is for non-science majors, and
we do not expect you to have taken any physics courses. But we will be discussing physical laws and how they
apply to the solar system. And we will at times put numbers into formulas
Reading and Homework
A chapter of reading will be assigned most weeks. You must do the reading by Wednesday, and your assignment
for each Wednesday is to write one sentence about each of the three most important topics in the reading. You
must also write down at least one topic from the reading that you found confusing or would like to have explained
more. An ongoing assignment for the semester will be to watch the planets and keep a record of your observations.
In addition, we will occasionally have other homework assignments involving observations or calculations. You are
encouraged to work together on homework and get help from us, but you must write out your own answers in your
own words. Duplicate homeworks will not receive credit. Late homeworks will receive half credit.
Tests
There will be 4 exams (see the schedule on back) and no final. Your lowest exam score will be dropped. Late exams
will not be given. If you miss an exam it will be the one that will be dropped. But let us know if you have a good
reason for having missed an exam. The exams will cover material from both class and the reading. The exams will
be closed-book and closed-notes, and calculators will not be allowed (or needed).
Grades
Half of your grade will be determined from your exam scores and half from homeworks (including the weekly reading
assignment). Your lowest exam and homework scores (one of each) will be dropped.
Collaboration
You are encouraged to study and work on homework assignments with other students, and you are encouraged to
get help from the professor and TAs, but you must write out your own answers and make the assigned observations
yourself. If you copy another homework or let someone copy yours, both of you will receive zero credit.
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