Scientific Exploration of the Moon

 

Course number: EPSc 568

 

Professor Brad Jolliff

Office: Rudolph Hall Room 340

 

Course Description:  Historical and current scientific exploration of the Moon, focusing on science experiments and results: (1) photogeology, (2) mineralogy and lithology of Apollo samples, (3) surface and orbital geophysics, (4) petrology and origin of basalts and crustal rock suites, (5) impact craters and basins, and (6) scientific results from recent lunar missions.  Synthesis of results, geologic history of the Moon, volatiles and other potential resources, and implications for planetary and Solar System history.

 

Text Box: Credits: 3, taught via two 1.5 hour lecture sections per week

 

Prerequisites: EPSc 352, Earth Materials, or permission of instructor

 

Textbook: New Views of the Moon, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Vol. 60

 

Supplemental Reading: Recent papers and publications, e.g., Elements, 2009; Warren & Taylor, 2014, Treatise of Geochemistry.

 

Course requirements:

 

2 examinations

Term projects (written and oral presentation)

Class participation

Practical exercises (data retrieval from PDS, data processing, geologic mapping; geochemistry and data handling; optical microscopy and lunar samples)

 

Class times:

 

(2) Tu-Th     8:30-10 am

 

Room: RH184

 

 

Syllabus, Scientific Exploration of the Moon

 

week   topics

           

1          History of lunar exploration, early missions, early expectations

            Apollo landing sites, Surface exploration

           

2          Overview of Lunar Geoscience; Fundamental Questions

            Discussion of ÒThe New MoonÓ (Denevi, 2017)

           

3          Apollo: Intro to samples: soils, rock types, mineralogy, lithology

            Apollo samples: Intro to lunar geochemistry

           

4          Lunar geochemistry, isotopes, and the origin of the Moon

            Reviews of New Views of the Moon II Chapter drafts

           

5          Reviews of New Views of the Moon II Chapter drafts (cont)

            Petrology and origin of basalts

           

6          Petrology and origin of crustal rocks; Magma Ocean

            Magma Ocean issues; Apollo surface and orbital geophysics

           

7          Surface and orbital geophysics, Post Apollo; mid-term review

            First Exam

           

8          Fall Break, no class

Recent missions overview (Kaguya, Chandrayaan-1, Chang'E-1, LRO)

 

9          New Views of the Moon Reviews, Discussion

           

10        Term Project, Design Reference Mission and Site Assessment

            working class periods

           

11        Post-Apollo views: lunar geochemistry, origins of crustal asymmetry

            Lunar geochemistry and lunar meteorites

 

12        Lunar chronology - radiometric dating and Sample ages

            Lunar chronology - stratigraphy & crater distributions

           

13        Volatiles and other resources, LCROSS and polar volatiles

            Thanksgiving, no class

           

14        Origin of the Moon; Role of the Moon among terrestrial planets

            Presentation & Discussion of term projects, part 1

           

15        Presentation & Discussion of term projects, part 2

            Second Exam

           

16        Reading Week

            Final Exams (no final)

 

*Semester Project:  Plan and detail a Òdesign reference missionÓ that would address a current, fundamental question of lunar science.  Focus is on scientific context, science objectives, and how the mission would address objectives and answer questions, and initial landing site selection and assessment.