This course is designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about modern astronomy. We will help you get up to date on the most recent astronomical discoveries while also providing support at an introductory level for those who have no background in science.
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There are 11 modules in this course
Here you can find all of the introductory information, course syllabus, and current announcements.
What's included
2 videos6 readings1 assignment1 plugin
Science combines logic and evidence to increase our understanding of the natural world, including remote and inaccessible regions of space and time.
What's included
18 videos3 readings2 assignments1 peer review
Astronomy is the oldest science, and its history shows a growing realization of our insignificant status in a vast and ancient universe.
What's included
7 videos3 readings1 assignment
A continuing revolution in telescope design and construction is giving astronomers an unprecedented set of tools for exploring the universe.
What's included
17 videos3 readings2 assignments1 peer review
Astronomers harvest information across the electromagnetic spectrum, using spectra to measure the composition of distant objects and diagnose extreme physical conditions.
What's included
16 videos3 readings2 assignments
Space probes have visited most planets in the Solar System, and orbiters and rovers are homing in on the habitability of Mars. Space exploration is entering an entrepreneurial phase that might let us venture beyond the Solar System.
What's included
19 videos3 readings3 assignments
In the last few years, thousands of extrasolar planets have been discovered, including some that are Earth-like and possibly habitable.
What's included
11 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Stars are the crucibles of heavy element creation, and the chaotic regions of their birth are being understood though long wavelength observations. Gravity is the ultimate victor in the life story of any star, leaving behind the exotic end states of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
What's included
13 videos3 readings2 assignments1 peer review
The architecture of the Milky Way galaxy is that of a disk, a bulge, and a halo, with the entire assemblage bound by enigmatic dark matter. Every galaxy contains a supermassive black hole, and entire population of galaxies is sculpted by gravity into subtle structures on large scales.
What's included
15 videos3 readings3 assignments
The expanding universe points back to an extraordinary state of extremely high density and temperature called the big bang.
What's included
13 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review
The Earth gives us a ringside seat on the physical, chemical, geological, and biological evolution of a dynamic terrestrial planet. The abundance of terrestrial planets in remote solar systems motivates the search for life and technology elsewhere in the universe.
What's included
15 videos3 readings3 assignments
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Recommended if you're interested in Physics and Astronomy
University of Rochester
Dartmouth College
University of Arizona
University of Arizona
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Frequently asked questions
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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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.
You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy.