EESC1177 · Earth and Environmental Sciences

Cosmos

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Open to all students.. There are more than a dozen interplanetary probes from numerous countries that are currently collecting data from several planetary bodies in the Solar System. These exploration missions are expanding knowledge of our Solar System, which is mostly built on only about half a century of space exploration. We will discuss these space missions and their scientific goals and results, which are increasingly oriented to answer questions on planetary evolution and the possibility of extraterrestrial biospheres. Throughout this course, the fundamentals of how science works will be emphasized. If weather permits, there might also be outdoor lectures for star-gazing opportunities.