Descriptive Astronomy 101
Reading Material
The following is a list of links to reading material from a variety of sources. Use of some of this material is password protected and restricted to use by students currently enrolled in Descriptive Astronomy 101. This material may only be used for the purpose of completing the required reading assignments. All copyright laws apply. Electronic copying and distribution of this material is prohibited.
Some of the articles below are password protected on Canvas. To access this material, login to Canvas. Once into Canvas, click on the Courses link, select the ASTR 101 course link, then click on the Assignments link, then on the Reading Articles link.
Essay Policy
Asteroids
Asteroid Belt - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Asteroids - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Trojan Asteroids - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Amor Asteroids - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Aten Asteroids - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Apollo Asteroids - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Earth
Earth - The Nine Planets
Plate Tectonics: This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics - United States Geological Survey web page
Volcanoes - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Impact Craters: Traces of Catastrophe - Lunar and Planetary Institute free online publication dealing with terrestrial impact craters. Focus on Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (PDF files).
Extrasolar Planets
Extrasolar Planets - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Extrasolar Planets: Detection - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Extrasolar Planets: Searches - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
NOVA Alien Planets Revealed - Read Transcript for program - PBS NOVA web page
Jupiter
Jupiter - The Nine Planets
Jupiter - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jupiter: Moons - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jupiter: Rings - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jupiter: Io - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jupiter: Europa - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jupiter: Ganymede - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jupiter: Callisto - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Kupier Belt and Oort Cloud
Eris - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Kupier Belt - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Kupier Belt Objects - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Kupier Belt Objects - Largest - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Pluto - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Pluto's moons - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Plutoid - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Oort Cloud - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sedna - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars
Mars - The Nine Planets
Mars - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Atmosphere - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Canals - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Life - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Olympus Mons - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: SNC Meteorites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Valles Marineris - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Vegetation - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mars: Water - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mercury
Geological History of Mercury by Paul Spudis (PDF file)
Mercury - The Nine Planets
Mercury - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mercury: Caloris Basin - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Meteorites
Meteorites, Clues to Solar System History from "Exploring Meteorite Mysteries" - a NASA Publication EG-1997-08-104-HQ (1365K PDF file)
Achondrites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Chondrites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Iron Meteorites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Mesosiderites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Meteorites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Meteoroids - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Meteors - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Micrometeorites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Stony-Iron Meteorites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Stony Meteorites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Tektites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Pallasites - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Widmanstatten Pattern - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Moon
Teacher's Guide from "The Moon: Gateway to the Solar System" - a NASA JSC ARES web page (673K PDF file)
Moon ABCs Fact Sheet from "The Moon: Gateway to the Solar System" - a NASA JSC ARES web page (62K PDF file)
Rock ABCs Fact Sheet from "The Moon: Gateway to the Solar System" - a NASA NASA web page (55K PDF file)
Tides, the Earth, the Moon, and why our days are getting longer - Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy web page
The Moon - The Nine Planets
Lunar Phases - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Lunar Time - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Moon - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Moonquakes - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Tides - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Neptune
Neptune - The Nine Planets
Neptune - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Neptune: Moons - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Neptune: Rings - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Neptune: Triton - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Cryovolcanism - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Planetary Geology
Impact Craters: Traces of Catastrophe - Lunar and Planetary Institute free online publication dealing with terrestrial impact craters. Focus on Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (PDF files).
Lava Flow: Aa - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Lava Flow: Pahoehoe - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Lava Flow: Pillow Lava - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Planets - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Volcanic Rock: Andesite - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Volcanic Rock: Basalt - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Volcanic Rock: Rhyolite - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Saturn
Saturn - The Nine Planets
Saturn - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Saturn: Moons - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Saturn: Rings - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Roche Limit - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Saturn: Titan - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Solar System
The Evolution of the Universe - Scientific American, October 1994 (Article in Canvas)
The Earth's Elements - Scientific American, October 1994 (Article in Canvas)
The Evolution of the Earth - Scientific American, October 1994 (Article in Canvas)
The Origin of the Universe, Earth, and Life - National Academy of Sciences web page
Big Bang Theory - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Doppler Effect - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Doppler Shift - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Edwin Hubble - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Milton Humason - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Planetary System Formation - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Population I Stars - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Population II Stars - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Vesto Slipher - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Revolution - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Rotation - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Ecliptic Plane - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Orbits - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Terrestrial Planets - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jovian Planets: Gas Giants - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun
Solar Physics - NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center web page.
Solar Structure
The Interior
The Photosphere
The Chromosphere
The Transition Region
The Corona
The Solar Wind
The Heliosphere
Solar Features
Photospheric Features
Chromospheric Features
Coronal Features
Solar Wind Features
The Sun in Action
The Sunspot Cycle
Solar Flares
Post Flare Loops
Coronal Mass Ejections
Surface and Interior Flows
Helioseismology
Absolute Zero - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Atoms - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Isotopes - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Nuclear Fission - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Nuclear Fusion - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Nuclear Fusion: Proton-Proton Chain - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Chromosphere - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Corona - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Granulations - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Helioseismology - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Hydrostatic Equilibrium - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Photosphere - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Solar Flares - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Solar Prominence - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Sunspot Cycle - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Sunspots - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Temperature - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Uranus
Uranus - The Nine Planets
Uranus - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Uranus: Moons - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Uranus: Rings - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Venus
Venus Unveiled - NOVA Transcript, 1995
Venus - The Nine Planets
Venus - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Venus: Atmosphere - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Greenhouse Effect - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
"Volcanism and Tectonics on Venus" - Annual Review of Earth & Planetary Sciences, 1998, Vol. 26 - Ebsco database.