Astronomy 630: The Solar System

Planetary basics: Orbital mechanics, dating techniques, light scattering
Solar physics - The sun, solar wind, eclipses.
Planet formation: Physics of accretion, observational evidence relating to planet formation, isotopes, cosmochemistry
Small bodies: comets, comet missions, Near earth asteroids and surveys, minimoons, interstellar objects
The gas giants: Interiors, compositions, degeneracy, heat transport, magnetic fields.
Terrestrial planets: Interiors, equations of state, differentiation, heat transport, surface interaction, volcanism, impacts, tectonics
Atmospheres: Structure (thermodynamics, oceans, polar caps), dynamics (weather), formation and evolution (compositions, sources, relation to origins)
Exoplanets: Detection, characterization, biosignatures

This outline is representative only, and is likely to change from instructor to instructor and from year to year.