(NASA/JPL/SSI)
Astronomy 309S - Spring 2010
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
MWF 11:00-12:00 · WEL 3.502 · Unique No. 49035
Professor
Sally Dobson-Robinson
RLM 17.218 · (512) 471-7774 · email
Courses - Spring '10 | Course Website
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Instructor
Sally Dodson-Robinson
Office: RLM 17.218
Phone: 471-7774
Email sdr@astro.as.utexas.edu
Course
Meeting times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: WEL 3.502
Unique number: 49035
Prerequisite: AST 301 (Intro to Astronomy) or permission of instructor
Website:
https://www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/education/spring10/dodson-robinson/309s.html
Teaching Assistants
Rodolfo Santana, santana@astro.as.utexas.edu, 471-3466, RLM 16.318
Ajay Gopinath, ajay.g@mail.utexas.edu, 232-7416, ACES 2NEo2B (map on website)
Office hours
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Dodson-Robinson: |
Santana (tutoring help): |
Gopinath (grades): |
Homework help sessions
Rodolfo Santana will conduct one homework help session per assignment in RLM
13.132, with the schedule to be determined.
Course description
Astronomy 309S is designed to offer a broad overview of planetary science to non-science majors. We will study the orbits, formation, composition and evolution of the sun, planets, asteroids, Kuiper Belt objects, comets and moons. We will also learn about planets outside the solar system, over 400 of which have been discovered as of Fall 2009. The class material emphasizes the newest, most exciting discoveries in planetary science and highlights current research methods. Much of what we will cover has been discovered within the last five years.
The prerequisite is Astronomy 301, 302 or 303. Students are expected to be able to apply high-school algebra, including solving for unknown variables and exponents.
Materials required
Textbook: "The Solar System: Sixth Edition" by Michael A. Seeds. ISBN-13 978-0-495-38787-9. The Co-op may have used copies available.
