Course Description:  A study of the Sun and its solar system: planets, satellites, meteors, comets, asteroids; Theories about the structure and origin of the solar system, with emphasis on recent discoveries. Includes a scientific investigation of other solar systems and the possibilities for extraterrestrial life.

Prerequisites:  MATD 0390 or two years of high school algebra or equivalent. One year of high school science recommended, but not required.

Course Rationale/Objectives:  This course is an introduction to Solar System Astronomy, a college-level science course intended to help students fulfill degree requirements in science. Since our courses are intended for transfer to a four-year institution, they will be taught at the University level.

Instructional Methodology:  This is a lecture-based course,  which includes time for class discussions.  I would like the class time to be highly interactive. I will often pose questions to the class so please feel free to respond on impulse. Participate and ask your questions as they arise. There is no such thing as a foolish question. If you feel lost, say so. Perhaps others are lost as well and all can benefit from review.

Required Texts/Materials:  We will be using Astronomy Today, 7^th Edition- Chaisson & McMillan.  You will also need a scientific calculator for use on problems.                 

Grading System: 

There will be three tests given on the dates indicated in the course outline below. These tests together will count for 70% of your final grade. I will hand out test previews that will assist as study guides for each test. There will be a multiple-choice component of the tests, designed to assess your comprehension of assigned textbook reading. Two take home assignments will each count 10% of your final grade. The remaining 10% will be based on class attendance, participation, and instructor perception of overall effort. An extra credit assignment will be offered and discussed in class. The standards for letter grades for the course will be:

90 =A             80 = B              70 = C             60 = D               Below 60 = F

Textbook:

Astronomy Today Vol 1: The Solar System (7th Edition)

Eric Chiasson (Author), Steve Mcmillan (Author)

A scientific calculator is highly recomended.

COURSE OUTLINE/CALENDAR

 Week                                       Subject                                         Text Reference                                   

1                                                    Introduction                                         Chapter       1

2,3                                                 Gravity                                                 Chapter       2

4                                                    The Solar System                                 Chapter       6

5                                                    Solar System Formation                       Chapter      15

6                                                   The Sun (and its Neighbors)                 Chapter       16

Test 1 (02/19/13)T

7                                                   The Earth                                               Chapter       7

8                                                   The Moon and Mercury                         Chapter       8

9                                                   Venus                                                      Chapter       9

10                                                 Mars                                                       Chapter      10

Test 2 (03/28/13) Th

11                                                 Jupiter                                                     Chapter      11

12                                                 Saturn                                                      Chapter     12

13                                                Uranus, Neptune, Pluto                            Chapter     13

14                                                Solar System Debris                                 Chapter     14

15,16                                           Life in the Universe                                  Chapter     28

Test 3 (05/10/13) Th

Please note:  schedule changes may occur during the semester.  Any changes will be announced in class.   

Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

·       Demonstrate understanding of the nature of science and the Scientific Method.

·       Demonstrate knowledge of the basic laws of physics that pertain to the study of the bodies of the solar system.

·       Compare and contrast the characteristics of the terrestrial planets, and demonstrate understanding of the causes of their similarities and differences.

·       Compare and contrast the characteristics of the jovian planets, and demonstrate understanding of the causes of their similarities and differences.

·       Demonstrate understanding of the differences between the terrestrial and jovian planets, and of how those differences came to be.

·       Demonstrate understanding of the properties of the smaller bodies of the solar system.

·       Demonstrate knowledge of the current best scientific explanation of the origin and evolution of the solar system.

·       Demonstrate knowledge of recent discoveries about extrasolar planetary systems.

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate competence in:

·       Critical Thinking

Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information.

       ·       Interpersonal Skills

               Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals.

·       Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning

                Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods.

·       Technology Skills

                Using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information.

Learning Objectives

Understand the nature of science and the Scientific Method:

·      Ptolemy and Copernicus

·      Brahe’s observations

·      Kepler’s empirical laws

·      Galileo’s observations

       Knowledge of the basic laws of physics relevant to the study of our solar system

       and solar system formation, starting from the interstellar medium:

·      Newton’s laws of dynamics and gravity

·      Conservation principles and symmetry

·      A glance at relativity and quantum behavior

·      A glance at the nature of light

       Knowledge of characteristics of the terrestrial planets;

       the causes and conditions that shaped similarities and differences:

·      Composition, size, spin, orbital eccentricity, distance from the sun.

·      Spin-orbit resonances

·      Atmospheres and their changes

·      The amazing biosphere of Earth

·      Heat retention

·      Convection

·      Plate motion or lack there of

·      Dynamos, Magnetic fields or lack there of

·      Solar activity and auroras

·      The origin and role of our moon (spin axis stability, spin-orbit resonances, and tides)

·      Water in the inner solar system

     Knowledge of characteristics of the jovian planets and their moons;

     the causes and conditions of their similarities and differences:

·      Composition, size, spin, and distance from the sun.

·      The systems of moons, their similarities, differences and interactions.

·      Individual characteristics of particular moons.

·      Origin and dynamics of rings

·      Orbit-orbit resonances

·      Atmospheres, storms, and their changes.

·      Heat retention

·      Strong magnetic fields and their influences

     Knowledge of the origin and properties of the lesser bodies of the solar system:

·      Pluto and moon Charon

·      The origin of the astroid belt

·      Trojan, Apollo, and Armor asteroids

·      Long and short period comets

·      Oort Cloud

·      Kuiper Belt

     Knowledge of recent discoveries of extrasolar planets:

·      Methods (and state of the art telescopes)

·      Findings to date

·      Similarities and differences to our solar system

·      Selection biases

     Awareness of current speculations on the possibility for extra terrestrial life:

·      The quest for fossilized life in the solar systems

·      Liquid water elsewhere in the solar system

·      The quest for organic molecules

·      The quest for microbes

·      Extremophiles

·      Mars, Europa, and Enceladus,

·      Stellar and galactic habitability zones

·      SETI and Drake’s equation

Course Expectations: Reading the text is absolutely essential. Your textbook is well written, clear and the material presented is fascinating. Some of the topics that you will encounter in your reading may not be thoroughly discussed in class, but are well developed in the text. This will allow our class time to be more focussed on select areas and afford us time to touch on some additional topics, as well as any recent “breaking news”. Take the time to read the text thoroughly. The glossary, chapter summary, index, as well as the internet should help you with the new technical terms that you encounter in the reading. Ask questions often in class, over email, in Learning Lab, office hours, or on the phone. Learn this stuff well and enjoy. Please do ask questions, whenever you need to. I am a better guide when responding to your queries.  A good approach to the test preview “Review and Discussion” essay type questions is to try to articulate what you have learned from the reading and class discussion, without verbatim dependence on the text presentation. Think about owning the relevant concepts to the extent that you feel competent in teaching them to another. Include important details, numbers, and analogies.

Attendance/Class Participation: Class attendance will be recorded every class. You are allowed three unaccounted absences, more than five absences will be grounds for an instructor initiated withdraw from the class.

Missed Exam and Late Work Policies

Homework Policies: Homework will have due dates (to be announced). Late homework will incur a 10% grading penalty. In addition to office hours, I will be available to assist you with any homework or test preview questions, as well as any Astronomy, Physics, or Math related queries in the NRG Learning Lab  (see times posted above).

Test Policies: All tests are to be taken in class during the announced dates.  Attendance on test dates is required.  If you miss an exam you must provide a rational and proof of an inability to attend, in order not to incur a 10% grade penalty.  Such rare exceptions will be rescheduled and the makeup test will monitored by me at the NRG Learning Lab.

Withdrawal Policy

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date.  The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002 may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.

State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities.  With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit.  Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

Incompletes

An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course.  An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty

A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution.  Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression.  Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents.    Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college.  See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow

Student Rights and Responsibilities/Academic Freedom

Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, 
and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not 
to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions 
of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is 
accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students 
must comply with college rules and procedures.

Statement on Students with Disabilities

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).   Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  

Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided.   Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.  

Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.   

Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at http://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/

Safety Statement

Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs.  Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.  You can read the complete ACC science safety policy at: http://www2.austincc.edu/sci_safe/.

Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

You are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

Use of ACC Email

All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.

Student and Instructional Services

ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services.  Information on these services and support systems, and links to many student services and other information can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/

ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored.  The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at:  http://www.austincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php

For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.