Planetary Science Curriculum Development at Montana Tech
PI: Dr. Scott Hughes, Dr. Nina Klein, Montana Tech
Courses and activities funded through the Montana Space Grant Consortium:
Rocks Stars and the Cosmos: Interdisciplinary course covering:
- Basic Concepts in astronomy
- Planetary Geology
- Introduction to remote sensing techniques
Survey of the Night Sky: Fall/Spring:
- Lecture/laboratory course
- Indentification of common stars and constellations
- Use of marker stars to identify other celestial objects
- Use of STARLAB Portable Planetarium as well as telescope
Space and Planet Utilization:
- Applications and societal implications of space exploration
- Deployment of functional space stations
- Remote sensing techniques for mineral exploration
- Possible establishment of lunar and planetary colonies topics
- Environmental impacts of planetary and asteroid mining and space-waste disposal
- Guest Lecturer: Dr. Jeff Plaut, JPL Magellan Mission Science Team
- Technical presentation on the geologic and tectonic processes on Venus
- Results and imagery of the Magellan Mission to Venus
K-12 Outreach - STARLAB Portable Planetarium Multi-media Presentations:
- Regularly attended by over 600 pre-K-12 grade students on Montana Tech campus
- Special showing to over 300 students and adults at the Butte Science Fair
- Montana State Science and Engineering Fair in Missoula
Montana Space Grant Home
Updated June 19, 2006
msgcwebmaster@physics.montana.edu