ASTRO 6578 - [Planet Formation and Evolution]

(crosslisted) EAS 5780

Spring. Next offered 2015-2016. 4 credits.

Prerequisites: familiarity with elementary physics and math or permission of instructor.

J. Lunine.

Survey of chemical and physical processes important to the origin and evolution of planetary systems. The first part of the course will cover the formation of planets including the astronomical context, nucleosynthesis, meteoritics, condensation sequence, accretion, dynamical evolution, and observational constraints (disks, exoplanets, major planets, satellites, and small bodies). The second part of the course will cover planetary internal structure and evolution including melting, differentiation, core formation, convection, thermal evolution, and magnetic fields.