Astronomy 1110

Homework #4

A Handful of Planets

Due at start of class, Wednesday June 28.

(The due date has been pushed back one day, but I'll grade any homeworks turned in on Tuesday in time to study for the exam on Thursday.)

1. A Cold Solar Nebula
Problem 2, Ch. 8 in the text (p. 235)

2. A Backward Planet
Problem 7, Ch. 8 in the text (p. 236)

3. Water on Mars
It has been known for several decades that water existed on Mars' surface perhaps a billion years ago. Recent images from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft indicate that water has been at the surface much more recently. Discuss (1 page or so) some of the evidence for recent liquid water. Do you believe this evidence? What new results could shift the debate one way or the other? You may wish to visit the Science website or space.com for more information.


Dr. Henry Throop, University of Colorado / throop@broccoli.colorado.edu

Last modified 27-Jun-2000