2024 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Planetary Astronomy
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Bunei Sato / Satoshi Okuzumi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Mon / 7-8 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A333
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Planets in the solar system formed in the gas disk around the young sun. Recent astronomical observations have revealed detailed structure of protoplanetary disks and extrasolar systems. How did our solar system and extrasolar systems form and evolve? This course will provide basic knowledge of observational astronomy and the theory of protoplanetary disk formation and planet formation.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the basics of astronomy and astrophysics
2) Apply these knowledge to interpret properties of the solar system and extrasolar planetary systems
Keywords
optical and infrared astronomy, radio astronomy, astrophysics, planet formation theory, solar system, extrasolar planets, proto-planetary disk
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of the class, a summary of the previous lecture is given. Then the main points of the day's lecture are given, and students are asked to provide solutions to some of the questions as necessary. Assignments and quizzes are also given.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basic knowledge of astronomy | Understand the definition of coorinates, distance, brightness and color of celstial objects. |
| Class 2 | Orbital motion: two-body problem | Understand orbital motion of a star and a planet. |
| Class 3 | Radiation and spectrum | Understand black body radiation, and formation of emission and absorption lines. |
| Class 4 | Various types of stars | Understand HR diagram and stellar evolution. |
| Class 5 | Stellar atmosphere | Understand stellar atmosphere. |
| Class 6 | Telescope and instrument | Understand photometric and spectroscopic observations. |
| Class 7 | Extrasolar planet | Understand observational methods and properties of extrasolar planets. |
| Class 8 | Introduction to planet formation | Understand the concepts of the core accretion model and planetesimals |
| Class 9 | Formation of protoplanetary disks | Understand the concept of pre-main sequence and why a disk forms with a star |
| Class 10 | Structure of protoplanetary disks | Understand the rotation, temperature, and density distribution of a gas disk around a star |
| Class 11 | From dust to planetesimals | Collisional growth, sedimentation, and gravitational collapse of dust in a gas disk around a star |
| Class 12 | From planetesimals to planetary embryos | Understand the concepts of gravitational focusing, runaway growth, and oligarchic growth |
| Class 13 | From planetary embryos to planets | Understand the concepts of the isolation mass, isolation mass, and runaway gas accretion |
| Class 14 | Observations of planet-forming disks | Understand radio interferometric observations of protoplanetary disks |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference books and course materials are introduced during the course.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' understanding of basic astronomy and astrophysics will be assessed by quizzes, exercise problems, assignments, and reports.
Related courses
- EPS.A202 ： Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences
- LAS.A101 ： Earth and Space Sciences A
- LAS.A102 ： Earth and Space Sciences B
- EPS.B203 ： Mechanics (EPS course)
- EPS.B212 ： Electromagnetism (EPS course)
- EPS.B202 ： Thermodynamics (EPS course)
- LAS.A110 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (geophysics)
- LAS.A111 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (earth materials)
- LAS.A112 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (astronomy)
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of mechanics and electrodynamics will be required.