In this semester of Astronomy we shall concern ourselves primarily with the Solar System. As an introduction to that, we shall consider the historical development of our modern picture of the Solar System.

1. A Sense of Time and Scale in the Universe
2. Precursors to Modern Astronomy
3. Overview of the Sky and Planets
• Classification of the Planets
• The Celestial Sphere
• Aspects and Phases of the Planets
4. The Old Astronomy
• The Apparent Motion of Planets on the Celestial Sphere
• The Universe of Aristotle and Ptolemy
5. The Development of Modern Astronomy
• The Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System
• The Observations of Tycho Brahe
• Johannes Kepler: The Laws of Planetary Motion
• Galileo: The Telescope & the Laws of Dynamics
• The Physics of Aristotle versus the Physics of Galileo
• Sir Isaac Newton and the Unification of Physics & Astronomy
• Vectors: Velocities, Accelerations, and Forces
• Newton's Three Laws of Motion
• The Universal Law of Gravitation
• Newtonian Gravitation & the Laws of Kepler
• Gravitational Perturbations and the Prediction of New Planets
• Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity
6. Timekeeping and the Celestial Sphere
• The Constellations
• Naming the Stars
• Star Maps
• Celestial Coordinate System
• Timekeeping
• Calendars
• The Seasons
• Precession of the Earth's Rotation Axis
• Lunar Orbit and Phases
• Solar Eclipses
• Lunar Eclipses
• Tides
7. Overview of the Solar System
• Sizes and Scales
• Revolution and Rotation of Planets
• Conservation of Angular Momentum
• The Origin of the Solar System
• Solar Systems in the Making?
• Binary Star Systems Versus Planetary Systems
8. The Earth
• The Interior of the Earth
• Geological Differentiation
• Plate Tectonics
• Evidence for Plate Tectonics
• Consequences of Plate Tectonics
• The Earth's Atmosphere
• Weather and Climate
• Consequences of Rotation for Weather
• The Earth's Magnetic Field
• Auroras: The Northern and Southern Lights
• Imaging the Earth
9. The Earth's Moon
• Intrinsic and Orbital Properties
• Tides and Gravitational Locking
• Surface Properties
• Interior and Geological Activity
• Theories of Formation
10. The Planet Mercury
• General Features of Mercury
• The Surface and Interior of Mercury
11. The Planet Venus
• General Features of Venus
• The Cloud Layer
• The Atmosphere of Venus
• A Runaway Greenhouse Effect?
• The Surface Features of Venus
• A Comparison of Venus and Earth
12. The Planet Mars
• General Features
• Mariner 9
• Surface Features
• Atmosphere and Interior
• Viking: The Search for Life
• The Moons of Mars
13. The Planet Jupiter
• General Features of Jupiter
• The Atmosphere of Jupiter
• The Great Red Spot
• The Interior of Jupiter
• The Magnetic Field of Jupiter
• Jupiter's Ring
14. The Jovian Moons
• The Moon Io: a Seething Interior and Active Surface
• The Moon Europa: Cue Ball of the Satellites
• The Moon Ganymede: Laboratory for Tectonic Motion
• The Moon Callisto: Geologically Dead
• The Other Moons of Jupiter
15. The Planet Saturn
• General Features of Saturn
• Surface and Interior
• The Ring System
• The Moons of Saturn
16. The Planet Uranus
• General Features of Uranus
• Surface and Interior
• The Ring System
• The Moons of Uranus
17. The Planet Neptune
• General Features of Neptune
• Surface and Interior
• The Rings of Neptune
• The Moons of Neptune
18. The Planet Pluto
• General Features of Pluto
• Surface and Interior
• The Moon Charon
19. Comets
• General Features of Comets
• Comet Hyakutake
• Comet Hale-Bopp
• Halley's Comet
• Collisions of Comets with other Bodies
• Small Comets?
20. Asteroids
• General Features of Asteroids
• Earth-Crossing Asteroids
21. Meteors
• Meteors and Meteor Showers
• Classification of Meteorites
• Meteorite Impacts

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