Do you love astronomy AND mythology? This class combines the best of both as we delve into the science and culture of our solar system. Each week, we'll tell a different story about Zeus and his Olympian family, as well as highlight what we know about the real planets, moons, and other celestial bodies that come alive through these ancient myths. To conclude each session, we will create our own trading cards featuring both the mythological characters and their astronomical counterparts, so that at the conclusion of the class, learners will have a deck of their own cards to review and share.

Throughout the course, learners are encouraged to bring any books or other resources that they would like to share concerning mythology and astronomy, and to take an active role in each discussion.

Week 1: Origins of the Gods (Birth of the Solar System and the Planet Uranus)
We'll examine the scientific evidence about the birth of our solar system and all its planets. We'll also tell the story of the early universe according to Greek mythology. We will introduce the trading card project with Uranus, lord of the skies and the inspiration for the ice giant planet.

Week 2: The Titans: Cronus (Saturn)
We'll examine the properties and layers of the gas giant Saturn for this week's science focus, as we tell the story of Cronus, the Titan who defeated his father and swallowed his children. This week's trading card will be Cronus/Saturn.

Week 3: Zeus as King of the Gods (Jupiter)
Named by the Romans for the King of the Gods, Jupiter is also known as Zeus in Greek Mythology. And what a character he was! We'll look at Zeus's rise to power, as well as the recent missions to Jupiter that have given us great views of this awesome planet and its Great Red Spot. This week's trading card will be Zeus/Jupiter. Learners will also have the option of making additional trading cards of Hera/Juno, Metis, and Amalthea.

Week 4: Jupiter's Companions in Orbit: Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io
This week we'll examine the four Galilean moons and how they were discovered, as well as share the characters behind the names. Why does Jupiter have moons the size of planets? Why does Io have so many active volcanoes? Does Europa really have hydrothermal vents? This week's trading card will be the learner's choice from the four moons discussed during the session. Learners will have the option of making additional trading cards for Jupiter's other moons.

Week 5: Poseidon (Neptune)
Zeus's brother Poseidon was lord of the seas, but the planet named for his Roman version, Neptune, isn't exactly filled with water. Today's story will feature Poseidon's contest with Athena to become the patron deity of Athens. We'll look at the ice giant Neptune and its moons, including Triton, and make a trading card featuring Poseidon and his namesake planet.

Week 6: Hades (Pluto)
Pluto may no longer be a planet, but it's still named for the lord of the Underworld. We'll look at the famous little dwarf planet and its main moon, Charon, named after the ferryman to Hades. We'll look at updated images from the New Horizons mission and create our trading card for Pluto, with the option of adding Charon and Pluto's minor moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.

Week 7: Ares and Aphrodite (Mars and Venus)
Let's end our tour of the solar system with our nearest neighbors, Mars and Venus. Named for the god of war and the goddess of love, these two planets are very different - just like their namesakes. We'll explore these characters and their relationships, as well as robotic missions to the Red Planet and humanity's future plans to send people there - as well as why we are NOT planning to send human explorers to Venus anytime soon. Today's trading cards will be Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus), with the options to include Mars's moons Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Panic) and the dwarf planet Eris, named after the goddess of strife and discord.