About this Course

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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.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 22 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

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. 22 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.72/5 (54 Ratings)

Dr. Terry A. Matilsky

Professor

Physics and Astronomy

15,020 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(1,624 ratings)

Week

1

Week 1

4 hours to complete

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

Welcome to Week 1 of "Analyzing the Universe!" This week we explore the nature of light, and how we get astronomical information from the images we obtain. The lectures and "wiki" material address these themes: light, image formation, and DS9. Dive right in!

4 hours to complete

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

7 videos

Course Overview4m

Lecture 1 The Nature of Images 13m

Lecture 2 Image Formation 14m

Lecture 3 Skipping Stones and X-ray Images 10m

Lecture 4 The Perception of Images 17m

Lecture 5 Introduction to DS9--Part I 6m

Lecture 6 Introduction to DS9--Part II 20m

4 readings

Introduction10m

Syllabus10m

Light and the Nature of Images. Plus, an introduction using DS910m

Week 1 Wiki1h

1 practice exercise

Quiz 1: Week 11h

Week

2

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

Week

3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Stellar Evolution and White Dwarfs

This week is our first in-depth look at an x-ray source, and it involves a white dwarf in a binary system. So sharpen up your detective skills, keep your copy of DS9 at the ready, and let's get down to business. It should be an exciting week.

3 hours to complete

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

Week

4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Orbits, Gravity, and Clocks in the Sky

This week we turn our attention to another fascinating cosmic source, discovered in the infancy of x-ray astronomy: Cen X-3. In so doing, we will see how binary stars can determine and influence many of the interesting and surprising features of our observations.

4 hours to complete

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

7 videos

Week 4 - Lecture 1 Orbits 23m

Lecture 2 A Matter of Some Gravity 16m

Lecture 3 Of Hummingbirds, Trains and The Doppler Shift 12m

Lecture 4 Clocks in the Sky-- Cen X-3, Part 1--Exosat 14m

Lecture 5 Clocks in the Sky-- Cen X-3, Part 2 14m

Lecture 6 Clocks in the Sky-- Cen X-3, Part 3 15m

Lecture 7 Clocks in the Sky--Cen X-3, Part 4--Chandra 15m

2 readings

Clocks in the Sky10m

Week 4 Wiki1h

1 practice exercise

Quiz 4: Week 41h

Reviews

4.8

81 reviews

5 stars
85.36%
4 stars
11.70%
2 stars
0.97%
1 star
1.95%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ANALYZING THE UNIVERSE

by RFMay 25, 2018

We learned this fantastic method for analyzing astronomical images using ds9. Dr. Matilsky is a great teacher, he made the difficult topics fun and correctly showed how to solve the problems.

by NNFeb 17, 2018

My first and best course for now! I am very happy to touch this topic, thank you very much!

by SSApr 19, 2021

I find it helpful in my university programs. And help me to get good knowledge about universe.

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.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Analyzing the Universe