PHYS 3070.03
PLANETS AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS
Fall 2007
Welcome to PHYS 3070.03: “Planets and Planetary Systems”. This is a survey course about planetary astrophysics. Topics include the formation and evolution of planetary systems, the search and discovery of extraterrestrial planets and current knowledge of the atmospheres, interiors and surfaces of planets and satellites within the solar system. Work for the course includes class presentations, problems sets and exams.
Pre-requisites: at least one of PHYS 1070.03, EATS 1010.06 (or SC/EATS 1010.03 and 1011.03), EATS 2030.03, MATH 2015.03, MATH 2270.03, or permission of the instructor
Course Information
Professor: Dr. Robin Kingsburgh
Office: Petrie Science 328
Office Hours: Tues.11:30 am – 12:30 pm and by appointment
Voicemail: 736-2100 x 77762 (preferred mode of contact)
Email: (specify “3070” in header, note – not checked regularly)
Website: www.yorku.ca/robin/3070 - check “Lecture Schedule” for topics, text readings and web references
Lectures: T, R 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: BC 323
Grading
3 assignments 20%
Term project 20% (includes presentation and report on refereed journal article)
Midterm exam 20%
Final exam 40%
Important Dates
Sept. 6: Class begins
Sept. 13: no class (Rosh Hashanah)
Oct. 9: Asst. 1 due
Oct. 11: Term project outlines due
Oct. 18: MIDTERM EXAM
Oct. 30: Asst. 2 due
Nov. 9: drop date
Nov. 8 – Nov 29: Presentations
Nov. 22: Asst. 3 due
Nov. 30: Last class
FINAL EXAM will be in the December Exam Period
Textbook and References:
Primary Text:
G. Cole and M. Woolfson, Planetary Science: The Science of Planets Around Stars, 2002, IoP Press, Bristol, U.K.
Additional References: (placed on 3-hour reserve at Steacie Science Library)
S. R. Taylor, Solar System Evolution: A New Perspective (2nd edition), 2005, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
I. de Pater and J. Lissauer, Planetary Sciences, 2001, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Course Policies:
1. Missed tests/exams: If due to illness or unforseen emergency, a student must miss a scheduled test, the professor or alternate contact must be notified by the day the test is to be written in order to arrange a make-up. If sufficient notice is not given, the student will receive a mark of 0 for the test.
2. Lateness of assignments: Late assignments handed in without prior arrangement with professor will be penalized or not accepted for marking.
3. Plagarism/copying: Any plagarizing of text (from books, articles or web sites) or copying of another student’s work and presenting it as your own will not be tolerated. The work will be severely penalized, depending on the nature and extent of copying (including a reduction of mark or mark of 0, and/or meeting with higher authorities within York University for judgement of case).
4. No pagers or cell phones allowed in class or exams. They will be confiscated.
5. Laptops are for note-taking only.
Exam Policies:
1. All students must show valid student card
2. Cellphones, pagers and other electronic items not allowed in exam room
Approximate Course Outline:
· History of Understanding the Solar System
· Context for Solar Systems: the Universe, Galaxies, Stars and Star Formation
· Solar System Dynamics
· Chemical composition of the Solar System
· Formation of the Solar System
· Properties of the Giant Planets
· Properties and Dynamics of Satellites and Rings
· Pluto, asteroids and comets
· Properties of the Terrestrial Planets
· Extra-Solar Planets
· Rare Earth Hypothesis
· Special Topics: Current Missions - Recent Results from selected Spacecraft and Probes, Upcoming Missions – Scientific Goals
Term Project: Worth: 20%
Purpose: to research, present to class and write a report on a refereed journal article
Goals: to demonstrate research skills
to demonstrate communication skills (oral and written)
to activate class discussion
to gain understanding of scientific research process
The term project involves choosing a refereed journal article on an appropriate topic, and preparing the following:
1. class presentation
date: Thursdays from Nov. 8 – Nov. 30
4 presentations per class
specifics to be posted on course website
length: 15 minutes + 5 minutes questions/discussion
2. handout for class: 1 – page
3. 3 possible test questions for your topic
4. 4-page written report due on the day of presentation (double spaced, 12 point, diagrams extra) on your topic, summarizing the following
- motivation behind the research
- method of research
- results of study
- context of results and future work
Note that you will need to do supporting research to understand your article. Include all references in proper format in you report.
A 1-page outline plus copy of the journal article is due on Oct. 11. The outline and article must be handed in with your final report.
Articles should be chosen from refereed Journals (electronic or published) or published Conference Presentations such as:
Annual Reviews of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ARA&A)
Journal of Space Science Reviews (JSSR)
Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A)
Publications of the Astrophysical Society of the Pacific (PASP)
Icarus
Astronomical Journal (AJ)
Nature
Science
Suggested topics, articles and directions for research:
Good starting points: Scientific American
Mercury
New Scientist
Physics Today
Science
Nature
+ many websites at Institutions will have lists of published papers/ links
Possible topics / articles:
“Planets Around Brown Dwarfs”, G. Chauvin et al.
2004, Astronomy + Astrophysics, Vol. 425, p. L29
(2004, A + A, 425, L29)
arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0409323
Any article in “Extrasolar Planets: Today and Tomorrow”
ASP (Astronomical Society of the Pacific) Conf. Series Vol. 321, 2004
QB 820I57 2003
e.g. “Search for life on Exoplanets – the Darwin TPF Mission”
M. Olliver, p. 183.
“Observational Clues to Brown Dwarf Origins”
R. Jayawardhana, p. 145
Any article in “Origins of the Earth and Moon”
Canup and Righter (eds.)
QB 632076 2000
Any article in “Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exopanets”
D. Coulter (chair) – SPIE Conf. Proceedings.
QB 632076 2000
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