Planetary Science With Star Wars Planets

Planetary Science With Star Wars Planets

This course covers over 100 planets in the Star Wars Universe and their relationship to real-life science. While Star Wars has a lot of fantasy elements, much of that galaxy far, far away was inspired by what scientists here on Earth have discovered about planets in our own galaxy! In this course, we'll examine each Star Wars planet and explore the science (or lack of science) behind the planet.

Having extensive knowledge of the Star Wars Universe is not required for this class! Students will probably be familiar with some of the planets, and some will be new to them. Even students with NO knowledge of Star Wars will find this to be an enjoyable and informative course; we cover a ton of topics in planetary science, astronomy, geology, and even oceanography!

Prior to class, I recommend that students have some general knowledge about the following basic science topics (watching a few YouTube videos about each topic should be enough):

⬥ The names and characteristics of the planets in our own solar system

⬥ Mass and density

⬥ The states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and how matter changes states - such as going from a gas to a liquid. (Bonus points if you include the fourth state of matter - plasma - but we will also be covering this in class!)

⬥ What an atom is, and that it's made of protons and electrons

TOPIC 1: PLANETARY ASTRONOMY

⬥ What is Planetary Astronomy?

⬥ Is that galaxy far, far away a realistic galaxy?

⬥ Solar system formation (Lira San, Starkiller Base, Exegol)

⬥ Stars in solar systems (Ahch-To, Tatooine, Dathomir)

⬥ Earth-like planets and the Habitable Zone (Takodana, Tython, Zygerria, Alderaan, Kashyyyk, Lotho Minor)

⬥ Planetary rings (D'Qar, Lah'Mu)

⬥ Moons in a solar system (Iego, Ajan Kloss, Yavin Prime)

⬥ Damaged planets (Anaxes, Hosnian Prime, Lola Sayu)

⬥ Asteroids (Polis Massa, Mining Guild Planetoid)

⬥ Gravitational forces (Nixus, Montross, Forest Moon of Endor)

TOPIC 2: ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

⬥ What is atmospheric science?

⬥ What affects a planet's atmosphere? (Agamar, Forest Moon of Endor, Mining Guild Planetoid)

⬥ Moon atmospheres (Bahryn, Concordia, Rishi Moon)

⬥ Human manipulation of atmospheres (Coruscant, Nal Hutta, Lothal)

⬥ Oxygen formation (Mandalore, Dagobah, Bespin, Sorgan, Orto Plutonia)

⬥ Weather on planets (Jedha, Scipio, Cato Neimoidia)

⬥ How mountains affect an atmosphere (Kijimi and Krownest)

⬥ Are these atmospheres realistic? (Shantipole, Sorgan, Tatooine)

⬥ Miscellaneous atmosphere topics (Aleen, Vanqor, Florrum, Eadu, Umbara)

TOPIC 3: GEOLOGY

⬥ What is geology?

⬥ Layers of the Earth (Naboo, Mustafar, Scarif)

⬥ Plate tectonics (Concord Dawn, Dagobah, Florrum, Lah'Mu, Aeos Prime, Ahch-To, Kef Bir)

⬥ Volcanoes (Mustafar, Obadiah, Nevarro)

⬥ Minerals (Crait, Kessel, Malachor, Seelos, Vanqor, Yavin 4)

⬥ Erosion (Teth, Ryloth, Onerdon, Moraband, Garel, Iego, Eadu)

⬥ Fossils (Geonosis, Malastare, Rugosa)

⬥ Caves (Aleen, Christophsis, Ilum, Lothal)

⬥ Groundwater (Jakku, Pasaana, Utapau)

TOPIC 4: OCEANOGRAPHY

⬥ Oceanography (Cantonica, Castilon, Cato Neimoidia, Corellia, Hoth, Kamino, Mon Cala, Rodia, Savareen)

Explore the planets of Star Wars and how real-life planetary science applies (or doesn't apply) to these worlds.

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What you will learn

• Which planets in Star Wars are realistic, and which are pure fantasy.
• Concepts in astronomy, geology, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography that have to do with Star Wars planets.
• How Star Wars planets compare to what we know about real-life planets and moons.

Rating: 4.16667

Level: Beginner Level

Duration: 6.5 hours

Instructor: Lauren Ard