ASTRONOMY 8850
PLANETARY SCIENCES
Fall 2026
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SYLLABUS
ASTR 8850 Syllabus, version 24 AUG 2026
SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORERS
Current Point Totals
True Explorers
USEFUL WEBSITES FOR PROJECTS
NASA Planetary Photojournal
Most excellent pictures of all sorts of Solar System members can be found here.
NASA Missions
Absolutely fundamental site for NASA space missions. Gives links to missions past, present, and future.
Solar System Dynamics (JPL)
Includes fundamental data for all sorts of objects in the Solar System, including the planets, natural satellites, comets and asteroids. Excellent (complete) lists of natural satellites is a highlight.
Small Body Database Search Engine (JPL)
Searchable database for orbits and characteristics of various asteroids and comets, nicely broken into categories.
Minor Planet Center (IAU/NASA/SAO)
Has extensive details and maps concerning all minor bodies (asteroids, KBOs, and comets) in the Solar System. This is THE place to shop if you are interested in objects smaller than a serious moon.
Minor Planet Lists and Plots (IAU/NASA/SAO)
Lists of various classes of objects and a wealth of other details.
NASA Exoplanets (U.S.)
The definitive U.S. "go-to" site for extrasolar planet research.
exoplanet.eu (Europe)
The definitive European "go-to" site for extrasolar planet research.
TOPICS
01 Solar System Overview I HERE
02 Solar System Overview II HERE
03 Solar System Overview III pending
04 Solar System Formation I pending
05 Solar System Formation II pending
06 Dynamics I pending
07 Dynamics II pending
08 Solar Heating pending
09 Energy Transport pending
10 Planetary Atmospheres I pending
11 Planetary Atmospheres II pending
12 Planetary Atmospheres III pending
13 Weather pending
14 Planetary Surfaces I pending
15 Planetary Surfaces II pending
16 Planetary Surfaces III pending
17 Planetary Interiors I pending
18 Planetary Interiors II pending
19 Minor Bodies Out To Jupiter pending
20 Minor Bodies Beyond Jupiter pending
21 TEEEM: Locations for Life? I pending
22 TEEEM: Locations for Life? II pending
23 Life pending
24 Exoplanets / SETI pending
FORMAT FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES JOURNAL ARTICLE
Overleaf Template: CLICK HERE
PAPERS
Levels of Paper Preparation
Anderson paper (2015)
Bowsher paper (2009)
Vrijmoet paper (2017)
TIPS FOR TALKS
Todd's Top 10 Tips for Talks