Teaching

Physical and mathematical foundation of planetary astronomy. Historical development of ideas about the solar system. A modern view of the planets; the origin and evolution of the solar system and planets around other stars.

Useful links: Exoplanet transit and radial velocity simulators.

A multidisciplinary survey course on the search for life on other planets and the origin of life. The course starts with the latest discoveries of habitable exoplanets, pre-biotic chemistry on the early Earth and habitable exoplanets, and the search for life in the solar system (Mars, icy Moons, Titan, etc.), then addresses the origin of genetic information and metabolism, the RNA world, and the origin of protocells.

BIOPHYS 3D03 (2024): course materials

The physics of light and radiative transfer as applied to astrophysical situations; an overview of the tools and techniques of observational astronomy at all wavelengths; an introduction to astrophysical objects.

Optical and infrared telescopes and instrumentation; observational and data analysis techniques; signal-to-noise prediction and evaluation; observing proposal requirements; data reduction best practices.

A current survey of the planets and planetary systems with attention to key processes in substellar objects and the solar system. Topics include dynamics, resonances and orbital evolution; energy transport; planetary atmospheres; an overview of mineralogy, geology, tectonics and surface morphology; impact cratering; planetary interior structure; meteorites, asteroids, comets and dust; moons, tides and rings; planet formation and extra solar planets.