Other Worlds: Planets and Planetary Systems - ASTR178
This unit explores our solar system and the newly found planetary systems around other suns. We begin by examining the processes that have shaped the marvellous variety of worlds within our own solar system, from the scorched and buckled surface of Mercury, to the geysers of frozen methane on Neptune's largest moon, Triton. From this we build an understanding of how our solar system formed and subsequently evolved to become the system that we inhabit today. We then turn our attention to the ongoing discovery of a startling variety of planets around other stars and the advanced observing techniques employed. These provide a new and challenging perspective on our place in the Universe that is modifying the scientific theories of how generic planetary systems are formed. The unit highlights breaking news as the unit proceeds. As part of this unit there is the opportunity to observe the planets with the telescopes of the Macquarie University Observatory.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| When Offered: | S2 Day - Session 2, North Ryde, Day S2 External - Session 2, External (On-campus dates: None) |
| Staff Contact(s): | Dr Matt Owens |
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| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | PHYS178 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Unit Type: | Planet unit |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty of Science and Engineering |
Course structures, including unit offerings, are subject to change.
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