4.8
stars
219 ratings

Dr. Terry A. Matilsky

16,533 already enrolled

Offered By

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

Analyzing the Universe

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

About this Course

4,942 recent views

Using publicly available data from NASA of actual satellite observations of astronomical  x-ray sources, we explore some of the mysteries of the cosmos, including neutron stars, black holes, quasars and supernovae.  We will analyze energy spectra and time series data to understand how these incredible objects work.  We utilize an imaging tool called DS9 to explore the amazing diversity of astronomical observations that have made x-ray astronomy one of the most active and exciting fields of  scientific investigation in the past 50 years.
Each week we will explore a different facet of x-ray astronomy.  Beginning with an introduction to the nature of image formation, we then move on to examples of how our imaging program, DS9,  can aid our understanding of real satellite data.  You will using the actual data that scientists use when doing their work.  Nothing is "canned".  You will be able to appreciate the excitement that astronomers felt when they made their important discoveries concerning periodic binary x-ray sources, supernovae and their remnants, and extragalactic sources that have shaped our understanding of cosmology.

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Shareable Certificate

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Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.74/5 (59 Ratings)

Dr. Terry A. Matilsky

Professor

Physics and Astronomy

16,533 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(1,709 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

4 hours to complete

Light and the Nature of Images....Plus, an Introduction to DS9

4 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 87 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Course Overview4mLecture 1 The Nature of Images 13mLecture 2 Image Formation 14mLecture 3 Skipping Stones and X-ray Images 10mLecture 4 The Perception of Images 17mLecture 5 Introduction to DS9--Part I 6mLecture 6 Introduction to DS9--Part II 20m

4 readings

Introduction10mSyllabus10mLight and the Nature of Images. Plus, an introduction using DS910mWeek 1 Wiki1h

1 practice exercise

Quiz 1: Week 11h

Week2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Basic Astronomical Data and a DS9 Smorgasbord

Welcome to week two of "Analyzing the Universe". This week we will be exploring some of the means we have at our disposal to find out many things about the stars. It is really quite incredible that these tiny pinpoints of light can yield so much information about their nature and about the structure of the Universe as a whole. And if this is your first visit to the course, welcome and jump right in!

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 109 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Stellar Evolution and White Dwarfs

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 67 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Orbits, Gravity, and Clocks in the Sky

4 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 113 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Week 4 - Lecture 1 Orbits 23mLecture 2 A Matter of Some Gravity 16mLecture 3 Of Hummingbirds, Trains and The Doppler Shift 12mLecture 4 Clocks in the Sky-- Cen X-3, Part 1--Exosat 14mLecture 5 Clocks in the Sky-- Cen X-3, Part 2 14mLecture 6 Clocks in the Sky-- Cen X-3, Part 3 15mLecture 7 Clocks in the Sky--Cen X-3, Part 4--Chandra 15m

2 readings

Clocks in the Sky10mWeek 4 Wiki1h

1 practice exercise

Quiz 4: Week 41h

Reviews

4.8

86 reviews

5 stars
85.45%
4 stars
11.81%
2 stars
0.90%
1 star
1.81%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ANALYZING THE UNIVERSE

by KSMar 1, 2021

My absolute favourite course. I will return to it and DS9 for sure. Highly recommend it.

by AVMar 26, 2021

Brilliant. Prof Matilsky is clearly very jubilant in his way of teaching. I have a lot of takeaways from this course and to mention, the material on the course wiki was great too.

by MMJan 16, 2019

I love the way the professor explains things, and the fact that this course is evidently tailored to the Coursera audience. Strongly recommended!

by OMFeb 9, 2019

Amazing detail, amazing insight. Take your time with this course, and dig in. I may have to take if a few times if I have time.

View all reviews

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Analyzing the Universe

Analyzing the Universe

About this Course