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CS92PROD
The Planets

E&ES 151
Fall 2009 not offered
Crosslisting: ASTR 103
Course Cluster: Planetary Science, Planetary Science

More than 100 planets are now known in the universe, eight of which circle the sun. NASA missions and improved telescopes and techniques have greatly increased our knowledge of them and our understanding of their structure and evolution. In this course, we study the planets, beginning with the pivotal role that they played in the Copernican revolution, during which the true nature of the earth as a planet was first recognized. We will study the geology of the earth in some detail and apply this knowledge to our closest planetary neighbors--the moon, Venus, and Mars. This is followed by a discussion of the giant planets and their moons and rings. We finish the discussion of the solar system with an examination of planetary building blocks--the meteorites, comets, and asteroids. Additional topics covered in the course include spacecraft exploration, extrasolar planetary systems, the formation of planets, life in the universe, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Essential Capabilities: None
Credit: 1.25 Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM E&ES
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (STS)

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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