Description:

A substantial snowfall in Sapporo or record rain in Ratnapura are noteworthy, but what about methane snow on Pluto's peaks and helium rain with ammonia hailstones on Jupiter? There is nothing new about twice-daily tides at Tybee island, but did you know there is tidal activity on the moon Titan? We know Alaska's Mount Veniaminof is volcanic, but did you know there are also volcanoes on Venus? Seismic activity is called earthquakes on Earth but called marsquakes on Mars!

Planetary science is an interdisciplinary field that combines geology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, seismology, and biology to our understanding of forces and phenomena on Earth and other planets. The class will examine Earth processes such as planetary formation and structure, cratering, tectonics, rock cycle, water cycle, sedimentary cycle, and aspects of oceanography and atmospheric science and evaluate the similar and different conditions on other planets and moons. Students will learn how space expeditions such as the Cassini, Galileo, and Kepler missions have collected valuable images and data on the conditions of other planets and their moons. They will discover how exoplanets have been identified and discuss what conditions might be found on these out-of-solar system planets. Just for fun, the class will tackle the contentious debate on whether Pluto and some other Kuiper belt bodies should be planets.

In this year-long laboratory science course, students will pair weekly discussions with experiments and activities that demonstrate concepts such as crater-dating, energy impact of asteroids in crater formation, erosion/degradation of craters, rock classification, tectonics using an earthquake table, spectra/light analyses to determine mineral content, and more. The class will also learn about the tools of planetary science on earth and in space. Students' laboratory work may also include citizen scientist initiatives using data and images collected by NASA and other institutions. Some lab activities may use computers and a spreadsheet to analyze publicly available data.

Note: This course will include select astronomy topics as they relate to the formation of planets and the solar system and the discovery of exoplanets, but this is not a course in astronomy. Themes such as galactic dynamics and life cycle of stars will not be covered. Also, while this course will include some concepts in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, there will be minimal overlap with the 2021-22 Atmospheric and Oceanic Science course at Compass, so students may take this course without substantial duplication.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class on reading and assignments.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted on password-protected Canvas classroom management site. There, students access assignments, upload homework, take automated quizzes and tests, track grades, and message instructor and classmates.

Assessments: Completed assignments will be assessed points. Parents can calculate a letter grade using the student's points earned divided by points available, in weighted categories that include assignments, labs, quizzes, tests, projects, and presentations. Parents may view all scoring and comments at any time through the Canvas site.

Textbook/Materials: Students should purchase or rent Envisioning Exoplanets: Searching for Life in the Galaxy by Michael Carroll (ISBN: 978-1588346919)

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $100.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

What to Bring: Paper or notebook, pen or pencil

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a full credit lab science for purposes of a high school transcript.