Astronomy 121 Reading Material/Lectures

Module 1

1. Air, Earth, Fire and Water

2. Naked Eye Observations

3. The Universe of Aristotle

4. Measuring the Radius of the Earth

5. The Ptolemaic Moment

6. Towards a New World Model

7. Galileo and the Telescope

8. Tycho and the Parallax Experiment

9. Kepler and the Mechanical Universe

10. Newton Explains it All

1. The Celestial Sky

2. Orbital Properties of the Solar System

3. Solar System Overview

4. Characterization of Surface Features

5. Formation of the Solar System
   • Hit and Run Planetary Formation

6. Formation of the Moon

7. Exploration of the Moon

Module 3

1. The Planet Mercury

2. The Planet Venus

3. The Geologically Active Earth

4. Drivers of Plate Tectonics

5. All About Mars

6. Life on Mars

7. The Asteroid Belt

8. Mass Extinctions and Impact Events

1. All About Jupiter

2. Jupiter Emission

3. The Galilean Satellites
   • More Galilean Satellites Images

4. All About Saturn
   • The Moons of Saturn

   • Hydrocarbon Lakes on Titan

   • Tiny Enceladus May Hold Ingredients of Life

5. Uranus and Neptune

6. Moons of Uranus, Neptune and Kuiper Belt Objects

1. Extra Solar Planetary Systems

2. Doppler Wobble Planetary Detection Methods

3. Formation of Planetary Atmospheres

4. Biochemical Evolution in the Oceans

5. Oxygen Addition to our Atmosphere

6. Is their Intelligent Life on the Earth?

7. Intelligent Life in the Universe

8. Dark Matter (optional reading; material will not be covered in class or on Final)