2023_ES2232F_Course+Outline

Department of Earth Sciences ES2232F – Exploring the Planets – Course Outline Fall term 2023/2024 ES2232F – Exploring the Planets - Course Outline 1. Course Information ES2232F, Exploring the Planets, an introduction to Planetary Science, Fall 2023-2024. 100% Online Learning. Course lectures and labs are delivered asynchronously. New material and weekly activities posted on OWL every Tuesday for students to view at their convenience. Midterm and Final Exam are SYNCHRONOUS (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable)! The deadlines for ALL other assignments are 11:55pm (Ontario time), on their respective days. List of Antirequisites Astronomy 2201A/B, Astronomy 2232F/G, the former Planetary Science 3380A/B, and the former Earth Sciences 2001F/G. Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites. 2. Instructor Information ATTENTION: Students MUST use ONLY their Western ( @uwo.ca ) email addresses when contacting their instructors (either the professor or the TA's). Remind that we will not reply to messages sent to/by personal email accounts. When contacting us, please use the identifier "ES2232F" in the email's subject area, followed by the main reason for contact (e.g., ES2232F – Request for appointment OR ES2232F – Lab 1…). Office hours will be provided by appointment only and, preferentially, by Zoom. Real-time meetings with students (in person or synchronous online) are reserved to answer more detailed questions. Follow the steps: 1. Review the syllabus and online information. Check the FAQ! Follow online instructions! 2. If needed, contact your TA for clarification. Use the sign-up tab on owl to make appointments. 3. Contact your instructor if you still have a question. Use the sign-up tab on owl to make appointments.

Department of Earth Sciences ES2232F – Exploring the Planets – Course Outline Fall term 2023/2024 Instructors Email Office Phone Office Hours Dr. Debora Rios (Instructor) drios2@uwo.ca Zoom / BGS By appointment only. Please always cc your TA to any email you send to me. Shuqi Bian (Contact TA) sbian8@uwo.ca Ananya Srivastava (Contact TA) asriva57@uwo.ca Matthew Oelschlagel (Contact TA ) moelschl@uwo.ca Zoom / BGS By appointment only. Mackenzie Russell (Contact TA) mrusse87@uwo.ca Western Science Centre Room 13 Mohammadamin Sedghizade (Contact TA) msedghiz@uwo.ca Sanaz Darzipour (Contact TA) sdarzipo@uwo.ca BGS #1020 3. Course Syllabus, Schedule, Delivery Mode "Exploring the Planets" introduces the interdisciplinary field of Planetary Science, which can be defined as the scientific study of planets, moons, and planetary systems. The course explores the origin and development of the Solar System with an emphasis on what is presently known about the Solar System and its constituents. Emphasis on the terrestrial (or rocky) planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars – and the Earth ’ s moon. Students will be introduced to the major processes that shape the interior and surface of rocky planets and moons, as well as the processes that affect the atmospheres of the terrestrial planets and the giant planets of the outer Solar System. The main goal of this course is to enhance students' understanding of how our Solar System formed, the processes that shape the planets and moons of the Solar System, and implications this has for the origin and evolution of Earth and of life itself.

Department of Earth Sciences ES2232F – Exploring the Planets – Course Outline Fall term 2023/2024 We aim to highlight the exciting nature of Planetary Science and the rapid pace of discoveries. The results of past and ongoing space missions to various planets and moons will be integrated into the lecture material. This course will focus on the following topics: ● What is Planetary Science? ● The properties of planetary bodies and moons in the Solar System. ● Planetary interiors. ● Planetary surface processes (e.g., volcanism, impact cratering, aqueous processes). ● Planetary atmospheres. ● Meteorites: rocks from Space; comets: dirty snowballs. ● Astrobiology and the search for life. ● Exoplanets. Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: ● Define the properties of the various objects in the Solar System. ● Distinguish and explain processes that shape the various objects in the Solar System. ● Apply knowledge of the Solar System ’ s dynamic processes to develop a targeted space exploration project. ● Integrate theoretical and observational information to describe the cause(s) of the variety of objects in our solar system. ● Evaluate and begin to synthesize concepts, theories, and observations related to course material. ● Develop writing skills and project development related to Planetary Science and space exploration. Contingency plan for an in-person class pivoting to 100% online learning. In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence during the course that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to- face interaction, affected course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online as determined by the course instructor.

Department of Earth Sciences ES2232F – Exploring the Planets – Course Outline Fall term 2023/2024 Relevant KEY-Dates are listed below for your ES2232F, Fall 2023-2024: The course is fully asynchronous, but here are some directions for a course schedule study progress: Week/ KEY Dates What to Expect? What to do? 1 Sep 3 rd to Sep 9 th /2023 Sep. 7th Welcome to “Exploring the Planets Check contact information; grading schemes/schedules; Check our list of references and readings. Find who your instructor and TA are. Fall classes begin at UWO! Familiarize yourself with the owl site and course outline. Answer to our poll. Time to know your TA! Ice Break: Send your TA an email informing your major area. 2 Sep.10 th to Sep.16 th /20234 Sep. 15th The Solar System & Fundamentals of Planetary Science A general view of our Solar System Nucleosynthesis: Origin and evolution of the chemical elements Deadline to add (or drop, without a fee penalty) a first-term class Complete any pending activity from Week 1. Follow online instructions. Do the readings. Watch the video/lectures. Assignment: Quiz 1 (review questions) . 3 Sep.17 th to Sep. 23 rd /2023 Sep. 22 nd “Inner Planets”: Mercury & Venus, Planetary surface processes (Volcanism, impact cratering & aqueous processes) Planetary Interiors & Atmospheres Project Groups defined on owl. Watch the video/lectures. Do the readings! Check for your project-group and break the ice, contacting your classmates. Work on Lab 1 . Learn about JMARS. Check Impact Cratering material. Assignment: Quiz 2 (review questions) .