ASTR 117 - Meteorite Impacts in Space and Time

Semester Offered: Second Semester, First Module
Credits (Range): 1 Hour
Attribute: 1 NS

This course examines where and why impacts take place and what happens when they do. Enormous amounts of energy are released when meteorites, asteroids, comets and planets collide at “cosmic velocities.” Serious collisions create impact craters, which occur in abundance throughout the solar system. Topics will include: Did an asteroid kill all the dinosaurs? Do meteorites from Mars contain evidence of extraterrestrial life? Could a large impact end human civilization? Enrollment Limit: 60.
Instructor: B. Simonson
Cross List Information
This course is cross-listed with GEOL 117.