The Evolving Universe

The Evolving Universe

Instructor: S. George Djorgovski

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79,805 already enrolled

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

840 reviews

7 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

840 reviews

7 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

96 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 10 modules in this course

This is an introductory astronomy survey class that covers our understanding of the physical universe and its major constituents, including planetary systems, stars, galaxies, black holes, quasars, larger structures, and the universe as a whole.

Welcome to The Evolving Universe!

What's included

7 videos2 readings7 assignments

7 videos Total 90 minutes

Welcome 2 minutes
The Oldest Science 7 minutes
Astronomy as a Science 13 minutes
Messengers from the Universe 21 minutes
Distances and Scales 18 minutes
Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System 24 minutes
Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation 6 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

7 assignments Total 210 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The Oldest Science 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Astronomy as a Science 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Messengers from the Universe 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Distances and Scales 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation 30 minutes
Quiz 1 30 minutes

What's included

10 videos2 readings11 assignments

10 videos Total 97 minutes

Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR) 14 minutes
Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution 11 minutes
Detectors (UV, Visible, and IR) 10 minutes
Radio Telescopes 8 minutes
X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes 7 minutes
Non-Electromagnetic Observations 5 minutes
Basics and Kirchoff's Laws 12 minutes
The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines 12 minutes
Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms 10 minutes
Fluxes and Magnitudes 9 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

11 assignments Total 330 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR) 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Detectors (UV, Visible, IR) 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Radio Telescopes 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Non-Electromagnetic Observations 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Basics and Kirchoff's Laws 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Fluxes and Magnitudes 30 minutes
Quiz 2 30 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings8 assignments

7 videos Total 87 minutes

Interstellar Medium: General Properties 15 minutes
Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening 8 minutes
Star Formation 17 minutes
Formation of Planetary Systems 4 minutes
Contents of the Solar System 24 minutes
Formation of the Solar System 15 minutes
Planetary Atmospheres 5 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

8 assignments Total 240 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Medium: General Properties 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Star Formation 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Formation of Planetary Systems 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Contents of the Solar System 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Formation of the Solar System 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Planetary Atmospheres 30 minutes
Quiz 3 30 minutes

What's included

8 videos2 readings9 assignments

8 videos Total 88 minutes

Thermodynamics of Planets 14 minutes
Searching for Exosolar Planets 13 minutes
Studying Other Worlds 9 minutes
Life in the Universe 10 minutes
Stellar Structure Basics 11 minutes
Energy Generation in Stars 11 minutes
Energy Transport in Stars 3 minutes
The Sun Our Star 17 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

9 assignments Total 270 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Thermodynamics of Planets 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Searching for Exosolar Planets 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Studying Other Worlds 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Life in the Universe 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Stellar Structure Basics 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Energy Generation in Stars 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Energy Transport in Stars 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Sun Our Star 30 minutes
Quiz 4 30 minutes

What's included

8 videos2 readings9 assignments

8 videos Total 78 minutes

The HR Diagram 5 minutes
Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution 7 minutes
Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics 9 minutes
The Main Sequence 11 minutes
Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence 12 minutes
White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries 17 minutes
Supernova Types and Type 1A 8 minutes
Core-Collapse Supernovae 10 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

9 assignments Total 270 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The HR Diagram 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Main Sequence 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Supernova Types and Type 1A 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Core-Collapse Supernovae 30 minutes
Midterm Exam 30 minutes

What's included

8 videos2 readings9 assignments

8 videos Total 83 minutes

Neutron Stars and Pulsars 15 minutes
Stellar Black Holes 14 minutes
Gamma-Ray Bursts 7 minutes
Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei 7 minutes
The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy 13 minutes
Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo 12 minutes
The Origin of Spiral Arms 9 minutes
The Local Group of Galaxies 5 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

9 assignments Total 270 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Neutron Stars and Pulsars 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Stellar Black Holes 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Gamma-Ray Bursts 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Origin of Spiral Arms 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Local Group of Galaxies 30 minutes
Quiz 5 30 minutes

What's included

11 videos2 readings12 assignments

11 videos Total 84 minutes

Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence 11 minutes
Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and their Origins 9 minutes
Galaxy Interactions and Mergers 7 minutes
Quantifying Galaxy Properties 9 minutes
Galaxy Scaling Relations 8 minutes
Galaxy Evolution: The Basics 9 minutes
Observations of Galaxy Evolution 8 minutes
The Cosmic Star Formation History 6 minutes
Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium 5 minutes
The Earliest Galaxies 8 minutes
Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance 4 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

12 assignments Total 360 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and Their Origins 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Interactions and Mergers 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Quantifying Galaxy Properties 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Scaling Relations 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Evolution: The Basics 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Observations of Galaxy Evolution 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Star Formation History 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Earliest Galaxies 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance 30 minutes
Quiz 6 30 minutes

What's included

11 videos2 readings12 assignments

11 videos Total 104 minutes

Large Structure 11 minutes
Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum 8 minutes
The Large Scale Velocity Field 8 minutes
Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering 8 minutes
Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations 11 minutes
Galaxy Clusters 11 minutes
Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification 14 minutes
Unification Models 5 minutes
AGN Fueling, Jets and Synchrotron Radiation 11 minutes
The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds 7 minutes
AGN Formation and Evolution 9 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

12 assignments Total 360 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Large Structure 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Large Scale Velocity Field 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Clusters 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Unification Models 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: AGN Fueling, Jets, and Synchrotron Radiation 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: AGN Formation and Evolution 30 minutes
Quiz 7 30 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings8 assignments

7 videos Total 97 minutes

The Expanding Universe 16 minutes
Cosmological Models 22 minutes
Distances in Cosmology 11 minutes
Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background 17 minutes
The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis 8 minutes
The Cosmic Inflation 15 minutes
The Very Early Universe 7 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

8 assignments Total 240 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The Expanding Universe 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmological Models 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Distances in Cosmology 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Inflation 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Very Early Universe 30 minutes
Quiz 8 30 minutes

What's included

10 videos2 readings11 assignments

10 videos Total 67 minutes

The Scale of the Universe 8 minutes
Distance Indicator Relations 8 minutes
Estimating the Age of the Universe 5 minutes
Cosmological Tests: An Introduction 9 minutes
Supernova Standard Candles 6 minutes
Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background 5 minutes
Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe 10 minutes
Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter 6 minutes
The Dark Energy 7 minutes
The Cosmic Concordance 4 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Lesson Slides 10 minutes
Lesson Slides 10 minutes

11 assignments Total 330 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The Scale of the Universe 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Distance Indicator Relations 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Estimating the Age of the Universe 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmological Tests: An Introduction 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Supernova Standard Candles 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Dark Energy 30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Concordance 30 minutes
Final Exam 30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(164 ratings)

S. George Djorgovski

Caltech

1 Course 79,805 learners

Offered by

Caltech

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Reviewed on Oct 18, 2015

Took this professor's course in Galaxies and Cosmology which was for 2nd year physics majors. I think this course is a more general course for non-physics-majors. Excellent course!

Reviewed on May 20, 2020

It was amazing course specially who have just ground level of knowledge, this course is best suits that kind of person. The professor has taught very well.

Reviewed on May 23, 2020

This course finally mitigated my immense interest about Universe. I really liked the content and evaluative process of this course. Thanks to Caltech for this amazing astronomy course.

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