1. Astronomy 270
Prof. Richard Rand
Fall 2015

2. Galileo spacecraft in 1992, on its way to Jupiter.

3. If Moon is rising, what time must this be?
Phases
If Moon is rising, what time must this be?

6. How do we get
information from
space?

7. Where to build telescopes, and what’s important
In their design?

8. Why go to space?

10. Why New Mexico?

11. How did our Solar System form?

12. How are we finding exoplanets?

13. Apollo 8, 1968. Second manned space flight.
Why study the Earth?

15. Why do some planets have thick atmospheres?
Pioneer Venus probe
Why do some planets have thick atmospheres?

17. Viking Orbiter, 1976

18. Did or does Mars have primitive life?
Viking 1 landing
Did or does Mars have primitive life?

19. Viking Orbiter

20. Why does Jupiter have such a unique appearance?
Cassini Spacecraft in 2000.
Why does Jupiter have such a unique appearance?

22. What causes this bizarre appearance?
Voyager 1.
What causes this bizarre appearance?

23. Why is the surface of this moon cracked?
Galileo 2000.
Why is the surface of this moon cracked?

25. What are Saturn’s rings?
Cassini.
What are Saturn’s rings?

26. Cassini. Why two layers not understood

29. Voyager 2

31. Why does Pluto have such a varied surface?

34. Hale Bopp

35. Did comets deliver water and organic
molecules to Earth?

37. Moons: understand why they have such variety
Planets: understand their unique properties and commonly shared attributes
Moons: understand why they have such variety
“Debris”: what does it tell us about history of Solar System?
More generally:
How do we make discoveries about Solar System objects?
With what tools?
What are the relevant physical laws?
How do we put the facts together to form a consistent, testable model of the Solar system?