This is an introductory level course about the history and philosophy of astronomy, the oldest science. We'll look at how humans learned to ask questions about the universe, and even before the invention of modern instruments like the telescope, learned some amazing things about their place in nature. We will start with prehistoric cultures who kept accurate calendars and move through the time of the Greek philosophers who laid down the rudiments of logic and mathematics and the modern scientific method. We'll then examine the revolutions of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton that redefined our place in the universe. We will then learn about the revolutions in physics in the early 20th century that redefined our ideas of space and time, mass and energy. Finally, we will discuss how modern cosmology has shown us that we live in an ancient universe (14 billion years old), in one galaxy in a universe of hundreds of billions of galaxies. At the end, will ask questions that don't necessarily have answers. What came before the Big Bang? Is there anything outside our universe? What is reality? We'll finish by looking at the role of life in the universe and ask whether the earth is the only place with biology on it.
This module welcomes students to the course and explains the structure and assignments of the class.
What's included
2 videos3 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 5 minutes
Welcome to Knowing the Universe•3 minutes
Course Overview•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Syllabus and Course Overview•10 minutes
Course Participation and Motivation Survey•10 minutes
Reflective Quiz Instructions•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 32 minutes
Survey Verification Quiz•2 minutes
Reflective Quiz: Before you Begin the Course•30 minutes
Prehistory and Greek Science
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
What was the Early History of Astronomy? From the Neolithic era to the Classical Greek era, we explore the origins of humanity’s fascination with the night sky and the practical applications of their observations and discoveries.
What's included
12 videos6 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 149 minutes
Ancient Astronomy•12 minutes
Modern Era•15 minutes
Calendars•18 minutes
Daily Motion•9 minutes
Annual Motion•13 minutes
Moon and Eclipses•13 minutes
Birth of Science•12 minutes
Early Greeks•15 minutes
Late Greeks•8 minutes
Qualities of Science•13 minutes
Reasoning and Uncertainty•13 minutes
Evidence•7 minutes
6 assignments•Total 80 minutes
Ancient Astronomy, Modern Era•10 minutes
Calendars•10 minutes
Daily Motion, Annual Motion, Moon and Eclipses•10 minutes
Birth of Science, Early Greeks, Late Greeks•10 minutes
Qualities of Science, Reasoning and Uncertainty, Evidence•10 minutes
Reflective Quiz: Checking In With Your Goals•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
Week 1 Writing Assignment - Ancient Skies and Greek Astronomy•45 minutes
The Copernican Revolution
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module we discuss the contributions made to the field of by different civilizations during the Middle Ages. We also explore, with the coming of the Renaissance, how the field of astronomy evolved due to the contributions of Kepler, Brahe, and Galileo.
What's included
14 videos6 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
14 videos•Total 158 minutes
Chinese Astronomy•7 minutes
Mayan Astronomy•11 minutes
Medieval and Islam•16 minutes
European Rebirth•12 minutes
Copernicus•12 minutes
Tycho Brahe•15 minutes
Kepler•13 minutes
Galileo•13 minutes
Early Telescope•11 minutes
Copernican Model•6 minutes
Galileo and the Church•15 minutes
Telescope Basics•5 minutes
Limitations/Solutions•13 minutes
Large Telescopes•10 minutes
6 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Chinese Astronomy, Mayan Astronomy, Medieval and Islam•10 minutes
European Rebirth, Copernicus •10 minutes
Tycho Brahe, Kepler•10 minutes
Galileo, Early Telescope, Copernican Model•10 minutes
Galileo and the Church•10 minutes
Telescope Basics, Limitations & Solutions, Large Telescopes•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
Revolutions and Telescopes•45 minutes
The Golden Age of Science
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
The scientific revolution had a far-reaching impact on the field of astronomy. From Kepler’s laws of planetary motion to Newton’s theory of universal gravity, the Golden Age of Science brings with it new tools and methods to understand the universe and our place in it. Additionally, we discuss how the study of the universe gives us insight into the history of our home planet.
What's included
14 videos7 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
14 videos•Total 134 minutes
Copernican Revolution•10 minutes
Descartes•7 minutes
Newton•10 minutes
Gravity•11 minutes
Physics•10 minutes
Flowering of Science•8 minutes
Modern Science•4 minutes
Cyclic Time•10 minutes
Linear Time•6 minutes
Entropy•12 minutes
Geological Time•13 minutes
Biological Evolution•19 minutes
Age of the Earth•9 minutes
Timeline•5 minutes
7 assignments•Total 90 minutes
Copernican Revolution, Descartes•10 minutes
Newton, Gravity, Physics•10 minutes
Flowering of Science, Modern Science•10 minutes
Cyclic Time, Linear Time•10 minutes
Entropy, Geological Time•10 minutes
Biological Evolution, Age of the Earth, Timeline•10 minutes
Reflective Quiz: Checking In Halfway•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
Gravity and Evolution•45 minutes
Mapping Space and Time
Module 5•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module explores the creation of different astronomical tools and methods used to observe and gather data from the night sky. We then jump to Einstein, his theory of relativity, and how our modern observations give confirmation to the validity of this theory.
What's included
12 videos6 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 197 minutes
Enlightenment•13 minutes
Telescopes•15 minutes
Timekeeping•12 minutes
Solar System•13 minutes
Milky Way•26 minutes
Scientific Method•21 minutes
Albert Einstein•12 minutes
Space and Time•15 minutes
Curved Space•8 minutes
General Relativity•21 minutes
Black Holes•26 minutes
Gravitational Waves•16 minutes
6 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Enlightenment•10 minutes
Telescopes, Timekeeping•10 minutes
Solar System, Milky Way, Scientific Method •10 minutes
Albert Einstein, Space and Time•10 minutes
Curved Space, General Relativity•10 minutes
Black Holes, Gravitational Waves•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
Relativity and Mapping•45 minutes
Theory of Atoms and Stars
Module 6•4 hours to complete
Module details
What are stars? How are they created? How and why do they die? By closely examining atomic theory, the answers to all these questions and more are discussed in this module.
What's included
12 videos5 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 162 minutes
History•23 minutes
Atoms•12 minutes
Substructure •13 minutes
Quantum Mechanics•9 minutes
Utility•6 minutes
Implications•16 minutes
The Sun•9 minutes
Formation•8 minutes
Properties•15 minutes
Stellar Evolution•17 minutes
Late Stages•8 minutes
End Points•26 minutes
5 assignments•Total 50 minutes
History, Atoms•10 minutes
Substructure, Quantum Mechanics•10 minutes
Utility, Implications•10 minutes
The Sun, Formation, Properties•10 minutes
Stellar Evolution, Late Stages, End Points•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
Quantum Theory, Stars, and Atoms•45 minutes
The Expanding Universe
Module 7•5 hours to complete
Module details
This module answers the “big questions": how was the universe created, how old is the universe, and will the universe come to and end? Galactic and super-galactic structures are examined as well.
What's included
13 videos6 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
13 videos•Total 182 minutes
Milky Way•14 minutes
Galatic Center•10 minutes
Galaxies•32 minutes
Active Galaxies•8 minutes
Large Scale Structure•16 minutes
Expansion•11 minutes
Acceleration •14 minutes
Space•8 minutes
Old Light•9 minutes
The Contents•6 minutes
Big Bang•20 minutes
History•18 minutes
Multiverse•15 minutes
6 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Milky Way, Galactic Center•10 minutes
Galaxies, Active Galaxies, Large Scale Structure•10 minutes
Expansion, Acceleration•10 minutes
Space, Old Light•10 minutes
The Contents, Big Bang•10 minutes
History, Multiverse•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
Galaxies and The Big Bang•45 minutes
Life Beyond the Earth
Module 8•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module attempts to answer one of humanity’s most pressing questions: are we alone in the universe? Through the discussion of exoplanets and astrobiology, we hope to shed some light on this matter.
The University of Arizona is the state’s land-grant university and a member of the Association of American Universities—made up of just 62 universities in the country. As one of the world’s premier public research universities, the university conducts more than $625 million of research annually. Home to two allopathic medical schools in Tucson and Phoenix, the UA Tech Park, and a member of the Arizona Space Grant Consortium, the university creates an $8.3 billion economic impact for Arizona. U.S. News and World Report placed 14 University of Arizona graduate programs among the top 20 in the nation and it is one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars. With its strategic academic and business plan, “Never Settle,” as its guide, the university is producing graduates who are global citizens, engaged leaders, and fulfilled individuals.
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Reviewed on Mar 21, 2025
An excellent course with important information clearly explained.
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Reviewed on Jan 13, 2023
Professor Impey is outstanding in teaching this course, as he displays his generosity to share his amazing knowledge of the astronomy field. Thank you so much for such an enriching experience.
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Reviewed on Mar 12, 2024
popularized science, made it so easy for everyone to learn, and motivated to learn more...
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