ASTR 17 Planets
Melinda L. Weil
Class Structure and Important Dates
ASTR 17 Planets is given as an online, fully asynchronous class, meaning we have no face-to-face meetings on campus or in Canvas. Students complete each weekly module on their own time.
You will 'meet' me when you view Orientation in the first week, and through teaching videos and announcements throughout the semester. You may also attend Zoom office hours if you wish.
Important semester dates including deadlines to add, drop, and withdraw are listed in CCSF Calendar.
Course Information
Hello and Welcome Online Students!
Our ASTR 17 class focuses focus on our solar system of the Sun, planets, moons, rings, and space junk, and visit planets orbiting other stars! Is there anywhere we can move if we mess up our planet Earth? Where did our Moon come from? We will try to understand the origin and evolution of planetary systems. Why is each planet different? We will look at detailed planetary information revealed by space missions, including life-bearing possibilities.
ASTR 17 is a 3-unit online class that runs for 16 weeks. It fulfills your Physical Science/Natural Science requirement. Our class is asynchronous, meaning we have no class meetings either in person or online. You go through each week’s lesson on your own time schedule. You will 'meet' me when you view Orientation in the first week, and through teaching videos and announcements throughout the semester.
Recommended Textbook
A textbook is not required but recommended. You know yourself better than I do, as to whether you are able to pass our class without a textbook to assist you. If you are not sure, try the first few weeks without one, then decide.
The suggested book is “Universe: Solar System” by Freedman, Geller, & Kaufmann, 5th or 6thedition, published by Macmillan. (The 4th edition has the chapters set up differently but is still pretty good if you can't find the later editions.) The textbook may be bought used or rented; the 6th edition is available at store.macmillanlearning.com/us/product/Universe-The-Solar-System/p/1319115055
"Universe: Solar System" is the text I used to develop the class so the order of the chapters and topics and the figures are based on it. Most relatively recent, cheap used textbooks on introductory solar system astronomy could help you, although the chapters and order of the topics may be different so another one will be a little harder to use. You may also opt for the Open Stax free astronomy textbook (https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy); the chapters are different so it is harder to use.
Starting ASTR 17
We start with a gentle Week 1 Module where I explain your Canvas Learning Management System, orient you to the course structure and the syllabus, and introduce you to astronomy. Even if you have taken an online course in Canvas previously, this is a new one so at least skim through the orientation material. I’ve worked to make our weekly modules easily comprehensible, and I hope you’ll find them simple to navigate!
Online classes require at least the same amount of time as face-to-face classes. You will find a Time Management Suggestions document in Week 1 to assist you. Whether this is your first online class or you have passed online classes before, remember that one important action you take for success is budgeting enough time! I will clearly indicate deadlines for completing assignments. Due dates in our class are on Thursdays and Sundays at 10pm. I have office hours appointment bookings available each week if you need assistance in addition to emailing me. You own space, and I am here to help you understand it!
Your login and password are your RAM ID. Please enter our class as soon as you can when the semester opens. Once classes begin, to easily access your ASTR 1 class: Go to the CCSF Website and click on “CANVAS” at the top of the page. Enter our ASTR 17 class and click on “Modules” in the left-hand course menu. “Modules” is the place to go every time you enter our class!
