Students

ASTR1020 – Other Worlds: Planets and Planetary Systems

2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and lecturer
Daniel Zucker
Lecturer
Matt Owers
David Spence
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit explores our solar system and the newly found planetary systems around other suns. We begin by examining the processes that have shaped the marvellous variety of worlds within our own solar system, from the scorched and buckled surface of Mercury, to the geysers of frozen methane on Neptune's largest moon, Triton. From this we build an understanding of how our solar system formed and subsequently evolved to become the system that we inhabit today. We then turn our attention to the ongoing discovery of a startling variety of planets around other stars and the advanced observing techniques employed. These provide a new and challenging perspective on our place in the Universe that is modifying the scientific theories of how generic planetary systems are formed. The unit highlights breaking news as the unit proceeds. As part of this unit there is the opportunity to observe the planets with the telescopes of the Macquarie University Observatory.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain how using the scientific method allows science advances though observation.
  • ULO2: Describe the content of our Solar System and how we have learned about it over time.
  • ULO3: Summarise what we know of planets around stars other than the Sun.
  • ULO4: Describe how we think our Solar System was born.
  • ULO5: Identify the physical processes that are in action on Earth and in our Solar System.
  • ULO6: Compare and contrast the planets in our Solar System and describe how these differences/similarities inform about the origin of our Solar System.
  • ULO7: Explain how extra-solar planets give us a new view of our own Solar System.

General Assessment Information

Unless otherwise advised, all assessment tasks are to be submitted via iLearn before 11pm on the appropriate due date. Please note that due dates may have to be adjusted to account for circumstances beyond the control of the University; however, whenever possible those changes will be made in such a way as to minimise any disadvantage to students.

For all queries please e-mail astr1020@mq.edu.au

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Final Exam 50% No University Examination Period
Moon observation project 20% No Week 7 (observations 19/08 - 02/09)
Online quizzes 30% No Week 4, Week 9 and Week 12

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 50%

 

An examination during the University Examination period, covering all the content from the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how using the scientific method allows science advances though observation.
  • Describe the content of our Solar System and how we have learned about it over time.
  • Summarise what we know of planets around stars other than the Sun.
  • Describe how we think our Solar System was born.
  • Identify the physical processes that are in action on Earth and in our Solar System.
  • Compare and contrast the planets in our Solar System and describe how these differences/similarities inform about the origin of our Solar System.
  • Explain how extra-solar planets give us a new view of our own Solar System.

Moon observation project

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7 (observations 19/08 - 02/09)
Weighting: 20%

 

A short project based on observations of the moon, with marks based on submission of observations and answers to a multiple choice quiz

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the content of our Solar System and how we have learned about it over time.

Online quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 4, Week 9 and Week 12
Weighting: 30%

 

A sequence of multiple choice and short-answer online tests, spread through the session.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain how using the scientific method allows science advances though observation.
  • Describe the content of our Solar System and how we have learned about it over time.
  • Summarise what we know of planets around stars other than the Sun.
  • Describe how we think our Solar System was born.
  • Identify the physical processes that are in action on Earth and in our Solar System.
  • Compare and contrast the planets in our Solar System and describe how these differences/similarities inform about the origin of our Solar System.
  • Explain how extra-solar planets give us a new view of our own Solar System.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Lectures vs External mode

This unit is offered in S2, in Special Circumstance and Fully Online / Virtual modes.  The lectures will be recorded and available online along with the slides and there will be other supporting material, including an online discussion forum.   

Lecture Times

The nominal lecture times are:

Lecture 1: Tuesday, 12 PM - 1 PM

Lecture 2: Wednesday, 2 PM - 3 PM

Lecture 3: Thursday, 1 PM - 2 PM

We will make every effort to have these lectures available online by the listed times. However, as the lectures will be recorded, you may watch them at your convenience. We do strongly recommend setting aside regular times to watch the lectures each week, so that you do not fall behind with the material; watching 12 hours of lectures in one sitting is not advised!

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Required Text: Universe: The Solar System, Freedman and Kaufmann (5th Ed) OR Universe, Freedman, Geller and Kaufmann (10th Ed). The "Solar System" edition contains all the needed chapters, but you can also get the full textbook if you like. Recent editions of either book are suitable.

A list of recommended readings and web links will be provided as needed, and there is a wealth of supporting material available on the internet.

Technology Used and Required

Extensive use will be made of iLearn, both to deliver content and assessment materials, as well as to collect assessment. Students will therefore need computer / smart device and internet access.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

This unit is taught through online lectures, online assignments and online forums, and through undertaking one (at home / off-campus) field experiment.  Questions on the forums or during chat rooms with moderators are strongly encouraged in this unit.  You should aim to read the relevant sections of the textbook before and after lectures and discuss the content with classmates.

You may wish to discuss your essays and other assessment with other students, but you are required to hand in your own work (see the note on plagiarism below). Several assignments are provided as one of the key learning activities for this unit - they are not there just for assessment. It is by applying knowledge learned from lectures and textbooks to solve problems that you are best able to test and develop your skills and understanding of the material.

Lectures will be presented as voice narration with slides, with PDF copies of the slides made available through iLearn. Lectures will be recorded and magically appear on the iLearn system.

Unit Schedule

Lectures

Week Lecturer Topics Chapters*
Week 1 Dan Introduction, orienting yourself in the night sky 1, 2
Week 2 Matt The Sun, the Moon and the planets: overview, the early observers and the Scientific Method 3, 4
Week 3 Matt

The Earth and the Moon

7, 9, 10
Week 4 Dan Terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus and Mars 11
Week 5 Dan

Terrestrial planets 2

11
Week 6 Dan Moons 13, 14.6-14.10
Week 7 Matt Gas giants 12.1-12.11
    Mid-Semester Break  
Week 8 Matt Gas giants, dwarf planets 14.1-14.5, 14.9,14.10
Week 9 Dan Meteorites, asteroids, comets

15

Week 10 Dan Extrasolar planets 4, 5, 6 as needed, 8.7
Week 11 Dan Extrasolar planets 2 / Formation of the Solar System 4, 5, 6 as needed, 8.7, 18*, 8.1-8.6
Week 12 Dan / Matt Formation of the solar system / Life in the Universe 18*, 8.1-8.6, 27
Week 13 Matt / Dan  Revision  

Note that this schedule may be subject to change. Chapters refer to those in either of the recommended books. The small amount of material in Chapter 18 (not in the "Solar System" book) will have equivalent iLearn readings.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

All lectures for the unit will be entirely online.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
23/07/2020 Updated nominal lecture times.