GEOLOGY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS



Please note that this course will be taught on Tuesday evenings (starting on Tuesday 3 October 2003) between 6:00 and 9:00 pm (with a break!). For the purpose of the syllabus outlined below 1 `evening' should be taken as one evening's teaching or equivalent (approximately 2.6 contact hours, allowing for the break). Some evenings will be partially given over to practical activities, as outlined below.

LECTURE CONTENT:

Overview of the Solar System (1 evening)

Methods of Solar System exploration (1 evening)

Planetary internal structures and processes (1 evening)

Planetary surface structures and processes (0.5 evening)

Impact cratering as a geological process (1.5 evenings)

Geology of the Moon (2.5 evenings)

Geology (and possible biology) of Mars (2.5 evenings)

Geology of Mercury (0.5 evening)

Geology of Venus (2 evenings)

Planetary atmospheres (0.5 evening)

Asteroids and meteorites (0.5 evening)

The giant planets (0.5 evening)

The giant planet satellites (1 evening)

Asteroids, Comets and Meteorites (1 evening)

The origin of the Solar System (1 evening)


PRACTICAL CONTENT:

Study of planetary images, and construction of geological maps from orbital images of terrestrial planets (3 evenings)

Study of meteorites and moon rocks (the latter in thin section using a petrographic microscope) (1 evening)

Visit to NASA's UK Regional Planetary Image Facility at University College London (0.5 evening).