"The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."

Albert Einstein, 1936

ASTRONOMY 1110H

Professor J.-P. Caillault

SYLLABUS - FALL 2004
Professor Information
Office: 237 Physics
Office Hours: TuTh 10:00-11:00 A.M.
Phone: 542-2883
E-Mail: jpc@hal.physast.uga.edu
Course Information
Class Day/Time: TuTh 11:00 - 12:15 P.M.
Textbook: The Planetary System, by Morrison and Owen
WWW site: www.physast.uga.edu/~jpc/ast.html
Attendance: Maximum of four unexcused absences permitted. Three points will be deducted from your course grade for each absence beyond four.
Homework: Worth 20% of your final grade. All of the "Quantitative Exercises" in each chapter will be due on the days that are marked with an asterisk in the class schedule below. You will work in pairs and submit your homework as a joint effort. Your homework "partner" will be different for every assignment and the pairing assignments will be given in advance.
Term Paper: Worth 20% of your final grade (details and topics TBA). Important dates: Initial Meeting - Week of Sep. 13-17; Bibliography Meeting - Week of Oct. 11-15; Outline & Introduction Meeting - Week of Nov. 8-12; Term Paper Due - Thursday, Dec. 9
Exams: Three exams, with increasing weight:
Exam I = 10%
Exam II = 20%
Final Exam = 30%
Grades: 90% =< A
80% =< B < 90%
70% =< C < 80%
60% =< D < 70%
F < 60%
Tentative Class Schedule:
Day Date Chapter Topic
Th Aug. 19 n/a Introduction
Tu Aug. 24 1 Finding Our Place in Space (Part I)
Th Aug. 26* 1 Finding Our Place in Space (Part II)
Tu Aug. 31* 2 The Sun: An Ordinary Star
Th Sep. 2 3 Getting to Know Our Neighbors (Part I)
Tu Sep. 7* 3 Getting to Know Our Neighbors (Part II)
Th Sep. 9* 4 Meteorites: Remnants of Creation
Week of Sep. 13-17 Initial Term Paper Discussion Meetings
Tu Sep. 14* 5 Asteroids: Building Blocks of the Inner Planets
Th Sep. 16 6 Comets: Messengers from the Cold, Dark Past (Part I)
Tu Sep. 21* 6 Comets: Messengers from the Cold, Dark Past (Part II)
We Sep. 22 1-6 Optional Review
Th Sep. 23 1-6 Exam I
Tu Sep. 28* 7 The Moon: Our Ancient Neighbor
Th Sep. 30* 8 The Moon and Mercury: Strange Relatives
Tu Oct. 5 9 The Earth our Home Planet (Part I)
Th Oct. 7* 9 The Earth our Home Planet (Part II)
Week of Oct. 11-15 Meetings to Discuss Term Paper Bibliographies
Tu Oct. 12* 10 Venus: Earth's Exotic Twin
Th Oct. 14 11 Mars: The Planet Most Like Earth (Part I)
Tu Oct. 19* 11 Mars: The Planet Most Like Earth (Part II)
Th Oct. 21 12 Planets, Atmospheres, and Life (Part I)
Tu Oct. 26* 12 Planets, Atmospheres, and Life (Part II)
Mo Nov. 1 1-12 Optional Review
Tu Nov. 2 1-12 Exam II
Th Nov. 4 13 Jupiter and Saturn: The Biggest Giants (Part I)
Week of Nov. 8-12 Meetings to Discuss Term Paper Outlines/Intros
Tu Nov. 9* 13 Jupiter and Saturn: The Biggest Giants (Part II)
Th Nov. 11* 14 In Deep Freeze: Planets We Cannot See
Tu Nov. 16 15 Worlds of Fire and Ice: The Large Satellites (Part I)
Th Nov. 18* 15 Worlds of Fire and Ice: The Large Satellites (Part II)
Tu Nov. 23* 16 Small Satellites and Planetary Rings
Tu Nov. 30* 17 Origin of the Planetary System
Th Dec. 2 18 Distant Worlds (Part I)
Th Dec. 9* 18 Distant Worlds (Part II)
Th Dec. 9 Term Paper Due
Mo Dec. 13 1-18 Optional Review
Tu Dec. 14 1-18 Final Exam (12-3 P.M.)
* - Due dates for "Quantitative Exercises" homework.