Enrolments for 2018 have closed.
Exploring the Solar System
Postgraduate | SWI-AST80005 | 2018
Course information for 2018 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Revolve around the solar system. Survey the stellar suburbs of stars, terrestrial and giant planets and the Moon and Sun. Understand Earth’s position. Study celestial activities of the night sky. Probe the solid surfaces of Mercury, Venus and Mars.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
FEE-HELP available
Exploring the Solar System
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Understand the basic principles of both celestial motion and planetary astronomy, and discuss these concepts in a non-technical manner understandable to the general public
- Understand and appreciate night sky observing and celestial phenomena
- Understand our place in the solar neighbourhood, especially of the relationship between our present environment on Earth and that of our companions in the Solar System
- Understand the social implications of planetary research
- Research an astronomy topic in depth, using dependable sources of astronomical information on the internet.
- Observing the night sky, star trails, the planets as wanderers
- Lunar orbit and phases, tidal forces, synchronous rotation
- Modelling the formation of the Solar System
- The Earth: structure, surface geology, atmosphere and magnetic field
- The Moon: interior, lunar surface characteristics and theory of formation
- The terrestrials: Mercury, Venus and Mars; comparative planetary geology
- Planets as habitats and signs of life
- The asteroid belt: properties and evolution
- The giant planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
- Satellites and planetary rings
- Dwarf planets, Pluto and the Kuiper Belt
- Comets and the dirty snowball model
- The Sun: structure, nuclear power, solar activity and its effects on Earth
This subject aims to provide an introduction to our solar neighbourhood, including terrestrial planets, giant planets, minor bodies and the Sun. The emphasis is on conceptual astronomy rather than mathematical techniques.
- Test (20%)
- Project (30%)
- Essay (20%)
- Assignment (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
SWI-HET602 (Not currently available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.