An introduction to modern astronomy's most important questions. The four sections of the course are Planets and Life in The Universe; The Life of Stars; Galaxies and Their Environments; The History of The Universe.
Confronting The Big Questions: Highlights of Modern Astronomy
Confronting The Big Questions: Highlights of Modern Astronomy
Instructor: Adam Frank
24,970 already enrolled
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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.6
(490 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 10 hours
Learn at your own pace
94%
Most learners liked this course
What you'll learn
Students will be able to summarize foundational principles related to the life of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe.
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Assessments
4 assignments
Taught in English
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There are 4 modules in this course
Planets and Life in The Universe - Exoplanets searches, exoplanet census, astrobiology
What's included
20 videos8 readings1 assignment
The Life of Stars - Star formation, fusion and stellar middle age, black holes and stellar death-
What's included
19 videos1 assignment
Galaxies and Their Environments - Galaxy types, Active Galactic Nuclei, Clusters of Clusters of Galaxies
What's included
17 videos1 assignment
The History of The Universe - Why the Big Bang? A History of Time, What Happened Before the Big Bang
What's included
15 videos1 assignment
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.7 (84 ratings)Offered by
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Learner reviews
4.6
490 reviews
- 5 stars
72.04%
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- 3 stars
5.10%
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2.04%
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Showing 3 of 490
CP
5
Reviewed on Jan 25, 2017
Great course! Loved Adams' enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge with the virtual audience. Comprehensive and very spot on. Congratulations.
EB
4
Reviewed on Sep 7, 2022
I enjoyed the lectures -- raised interesting questions to ponder. May try another astronomy course to get more of the background and explanations. Found the assignments challenging.
NP
5
Reviewed on Aug 7, 2017
Outstanding. Nuanced, yet accessible. Love the professor's infectious passion about the subject, and also his rather lovely choice of words at times!
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Frequently asked questions
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