GEOL 342 - Planetary Geology

Units: 3
A survey of the composition, evolution, and geologic features of planetary bodies in the Solar System. Topics include origin of the Solar System, planetary atmospheres, comparative planetology of terrestrial and Jovian planets, small bodies such as moons, comets and asteroids.

Strongly Recommended Preparation: GEOL 361, GEOL 362.
Prerequisites: GEOL 210.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground, or Hybrid.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Explain, in scientific terms, the astronomical context of planet formation in general and the formation of our solar system in particular, recent exoplanet detections, meteoritics and cosmochemistry, chronology of the early Earth, geology of the Earth and Moon, the Moon-forming impact.
Present a scientific discussion of planetary science topics in both written and oral form.
Demonstrate analytical skills through a range of modules requiring, for example, analysis of radioactive decay, petrographic description of rocks from the solar system, and crater counting methodology for Mars and Moon.
Recognize key aspects of the spatial and temporal scales of planetary science through observations of Sun, planets, and star-forming regions.