Shantanu Naidu


I was the Teaching assistant for ESS9: Solar System and Planets in Spring 2012.

Some of the topics covered were:

  • Properties of the Sun, planets, asteroids, and comets.
  • Astronomical observations relevant to understanding solar system and its origin.
  • Meteoritic evidence regarding earliest history of solar system.
  • Chemical models of solar nebula.
  • Space exploration and its planning

  • Highlights from the course include observing the 2012 transit of Venus across the Sun and giving a planetarium presentation to the students. The students particularly enjoyed the meteorites lab where they got an opportunity to handle and learn about the origin of some space rocks.