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{\bf Course Syllabus\\
29:52 Characteristics and Origins of the Solar System\\
Spring Semester 2004}\\
\par
Steven R. Spangler\\
705 Van Allen Hall\\
335-1948\\
steven-spangler@uiowa.edu\\
http://phobos.physics.uiowa.edu/$\sim$srs/\\
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{\em Characteristics and Origins of the Solar System} is an introductory course in the astronomy 
of the solar system, 
intended for students who are majoring in fields other than the natural 
sciences.  The astronomy of the solar system is one of the most exciting fields in all 
science nowadays, ranking with molecular biology and genetics. 
New results from 
spacecraft are coming in daily, and may be seen on the front page of the 
{\em New York Times}. This is an especially timely semester to take a solar system astronomy class.  At the beginning of the semester, the two Mars Exploration Rovers, {\em Spirit} and {\em Opportunity}, will set down on the surface of Mars and begin their exploration.  Orbiting overhead, the {\em Mars Express} spacecraft will begin its seach for subsurface water on Mars, using a University of Iowa instrument.  As the semester progresses, the Cassini spacecraft will near the end of its multi-year voyage to Saturn.  As we discuss these objects and the latest findings about them, we will also be finding them in the night sky and observing them with telescopes.  Looking to the future, it is highly likely that major discoveries in solar 
system astronomy will be made during the lifetimes of current college students, 
discoveries which may profoundly change our view of ourselves as human beings. This course will 
prepare students to better comprehend the nature and significance of those discoveries. 
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{\bf General Course Information}
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\item Lectures are from 1:30 to 2:20 PM, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in Room 70 of Van Allen Hall.
\item The required textbook for the course is {\em Astronomy Volume I Solar System} by 
John D. Fix
\item Office hours for Professor Spangler are 1:00 to 2:00 Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 11:00AM to 12:00 PM, Thursday, or by appointment 
if these times are inconvenient. 
\item One hour exams will be held in the regular class period on March 1 and April 21. 
\item The final exam will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 4:30 PM.  The location will be announced at a later date. 
\item Homework will be assigned, collected and graded. Homework exercises will consist 
of computational exercises and thought problems. The purpose of these exercises is to get you 
to actively think about what is presented in class. I plan to assign a homework assignment about every other week.  The total score of all homework assignments will count the same as one exam. Students are encouraged to work in 
groups of 2 to 3 on these. I also expect and want students to come and talk to me about these.   
\item Students are encouraged to visit the observatory on the roof of Van Allen 
Hall to see the objects discussed in this class. 
 A laboratory 
instructor will be on duty on {\em clear} nights, Monday through Thursday, at 7:00 PM. The time will be moved later as the semester progresses.  
The roof of Van Allen Hall may be reached from a stairway at the east end of the 
7th floor. The roof is kept dark during observing sessions, so be careful where you 
step and be alert for changes in elevation. I will personally direct several of these sessions during the semester, and stress features of the planets that we have discussed in class. In addition, I plan to organize a number of observing 
sessions at the observatory of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers.
\item There is a World Wide Web homepage associated with the course, 
(URL given above). Go to the link for 29:52. 
The website contains lecture notes and homework assignments. It also 
serves as a gateway to other astronomical links such as the homepages for spacecraft that provide data we will discuss this semester. 
\item I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require some modification 
of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. 
Please see me after class or during office hours. 
\item The grading policy for this course will be as follows.  The grade will be based on the percentage of the maximum number of points.  The three exams and the homework will each contribute 25 \% of the total number of points.  The grading scale will be as follows: > 85 \% = A; > 75 \% = B; > 60 \% = C; and > 50 \% = D.  To pass the course, a student must obtain 50 \% or more of the maximum number of points.  This grading curve differs from that I have traditionally used, in that the grade will be assigned on an absolute basis rather than the standing of a student relative to his or her peers. I employ + and - grades for students near the boundaries between grades. 
\item It is recommended and expected that students attend all classes, with allowance made for reasonable excuses.  I make notes available on the web, but the intent of these is to assist and aid students who come to hear and participate in the lectures, and save them some clerical work. The on-line lecture notes are not intended as a substitute for class participation. 


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{\bf Schedule of Topics}
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\begin{tabular}{||l|l|l||} \hline
{\bf Date} & {\bf Topic} & {\bf Textbook Reference} \\
\hline 
Topic 1, January 21 & Initial pleasantries, Overview of Solar System & ---\\
Topic 2, January 23- 30 & The solar system in the night sky & Chapter 2 \& 4 \\
Topic 3, February 2-4 & Orbit of the Moon and Kepler's Laws & Chapter 4 \& 5\\ 
Topic 4, February 6-9  &  The Earth as a planet  & Chapter 8 \\
Topic 5, February 11-13 & The Earth's atmosphere & Chapter 8 \\
Topic 6, February 16-18 & The Moon and its Geology & Chapter 9 \\
Topic 7, February 20 & The Age of Impacts & Chapter 9 \\
Topic 8, February 23-27 & Mars, water, and ancient life & Chapter 11 \\
{\bf March 1} & {\bf First Hour Exam} & --- \\
Topic 9, March 3-5 & Mars, 4 billion years ago & Chapter 11\\
Topic 10, March 8 & Venus & Chapter 10 \\
Topic 11, March 10-24 & the Jovian planets: big balls of liquid hydrogen & Chapter 12\\
Topic 12, March 26  & The Galilean satellites: water on Europa & Chapter 14\\
Topic 13, March 29-31 & Saturn: its ring and moons &  Chapters 12 \& 14    \\
Topic 14, April 2 &  Way out: Uranus etc. & Chapter 13 \\
Topic 15, April 5 & Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors & Chapter 15 \\
Topic 16, April 7 &  Comets and cometary material & Chapter 15 \\
Topic 17, April 9-12 & Asteroids: tiny worlds & Chapter 15\\
Topic 18, April 14 & Meteors, Meteorites, and Asteroids & Chapter 15 \\
Topic 19, April 16-19 & The Sun: story of a G2V star & Chapter 17 \\
{\bf April 21} & {\bf Third Hour Exam} & ---\\
Topic 20, April 23-30 & The origin of the solar system & Chapter 18 \\
Topic 21, May 3-5 & Stars like the Sun and other solar systems & Chapter 17\\
Topic 22, May 7  & Where are they? Life in the universe & ---\\
{\bf May 11} & {\bf 4:30 PM: Final Exam} & Stay tuned for location \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
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