Session Date
Lesson Topic
Exoplanets I
Lesson Outline
Today we finally started on a subject that has fascinated Jared since we started this course: planets outside our own Solar System, or exoplanets. We discussed why it's been so difficult even starting to find them - the first one was not discovered until 1995. This has to do with the fact that the light from the parent star completely drowns the light from the planets, and rather sophisticated techniques and instruments needed to be developed. Today, there are nearly 5000 known exoplanets, most of them discovered thanks to the Kepler mission.
Assignment
Research the 'Pioneer Anomaly'
Session Minutes
90
Minutes Student Attended
90
Lesson Comments
Even though we started today on a topic that has piqued Jared's interest since we started this course, I have to say it's the first time I've seen him rather unfocused and restless. It was almost impossible to get him to turn his attention to the lesson - of course, what was distracting him was a web page with a build-it-yourself model of hypothetical solar systems, but nevertheless it was difficult to get him to focus. I'm attributing this to the fact that he missed out on several days of his anti-anxiety medication (cf my comment from yesterday). It was most uncharacteristic of Jared, and I'm hoping that once he catches up with the medication he'll be able to relax again.
Session Hours
1.50
Hours Attended
1.50
Entry Status
Review Status
Student Name(s)
Subject
School