The Evolving Universe

The Evolving Universe

Instructor: S. George Djorgovski

Access provided by PKO BP

78,904 already enrolled

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.6

(836 reviews)

7 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.6

(836 reviews)

7 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

96 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 10 modules in this course

Welcome to The Evolving Universe!

What's included

7 videos2 readings7 assignments

7 videosTotal 90 minutes

Welcome1 minute
The Oldest Science6 minutes
Astronomy as a Science12 minutes
Messengers from the Universe21 minutes
Distances and Scales18 minutes
Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System23 minutes
Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation6 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

7 assignmentsTotal 210 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The Oldest Science30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Astronomy as a Science30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Messengers from the Universe30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Distances and Scales30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation30 minutes
Quiz 130 minutes

What's included

10 videos2 readings11 assignments

10 videosTotal 96 minutes

Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR)13 minutes
Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution11 minutes
Detectors (UV, Visible, and IR)9 minutes
Radio Telescopes7 minutes
X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes6 minutes
Non-Electromagnetic Observations4 minutes
Basics and Kirchoff's Laws11 minutes
The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines12 minutes
Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms9 minutes
Fluxes and Magnitudes8 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

11 assignmentsTotal 330 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR)30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Detectors (UV, Visible, IR)30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Radio Telescopes30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Non-Electromagnetic Observations30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Basics and Kirchoff's Laws30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Fluxes and Magnitudes30 minutes
Quiz 230 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings8 assignments

7 videosTotal 86 minutes

Interstellar Medium: General Properties14 minutes
Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening8 minutes
Star Formation17 minutes
Formation of Planetary Systems3 minutes
Contents of the Solar System23 minutes
Formation of the Solar System14 minutes
Planetary Atmospheres4 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

8 assignmentsTotal 240 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Medium: General Properties30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Star Formation30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Formation of Planetary Systems30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Contents of the Solar System30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Formation of the Solar System30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Planetary Atmospheres30 minutes
Quiz 330 minutes

What's included

8 videos2 readings9 assignments

8 videosTotal 87 minutes

Thermodynamics of Planets14 minutes
Searching for Exosolar Planets13 minutes
Studying Other Worlds9 minutes
Life in the Universe9 minutes
Stellar Structure Basics10 minutes
Energy Generation in Stars11 minutes
Energy Transport in Stars3 minutes
The Sun Our Star16 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

9 assignmentsTotal 270 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Thermodynamics of Planets30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Searching for Exosolar Planets30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Studying Other Worlds30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Life in the Universe30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Stellar Structure Basics30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Energy Generation in Stars30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Energy Transport in Stars30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Sun Our Star30 minutes
Quiz 430 minutes

What's included

8 videos2 readings9 assignments

8 videosTotal 78 minutes

The HR Diagram5 minutes
Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution6 minutes
Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics8 minutes
The Main Sequence10 minutes
Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence12 minutes
White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries16 minutes
Supernova Types and Type 1A8 minutes
Core-Collapse Supernovae9 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

9 assignmentsTotal 270 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The HR Diagram30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Main Sequence30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Supernova Types and Type 1A30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Core-Collapse Supernovae30 minutes
Midterm Exam30 minutes

What's included

8 videos2 readings9 assignments

8 videosTotal 83 minutes

Neutron Stars and Pulsars14 minutes
Stellar Black Holes14 minutes
Gamma-Ray Bursts7 minutes
Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei7 minutes
The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy13 minutes
Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo12 minutes
The Origin of Spiral Arms8 minutes
The Local Group of Galaxies5 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

9 assignmentsTotal 270 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Neutron Stars and Pulsars30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Stellar Black Holes30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Gamma-Ray Bursts30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Origin of Spiral Arms30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Local Group of Galaxies30 minutes
Quiz 530 minutes

What's included

11 videos2 readings12 assignments

11 videosTotal 84 minutes

Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence10 minutes
Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and their Origins9 minutes
Galaxy Interactions and Mergers6 minutes
Quantifying Galaxy Properties9 minutes
Galaxy Scaling Relations7 minutes
Galaxy Evolution: The Basics9 minutes
Observations of Galaxy Evolution8 minutes
The Cosmic Star Formation History6 minutes
Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium5 minutes
The Earliest Galaxies7 minutes
Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

12 assignmentsTotal 360 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and Their Origins30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Interactions and Mergers30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Quantifying Galaxy Properties30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Scaling Relations30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Evolution: The Basics30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Observations of Galaxy Evolution30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Star Formation History30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Earliest Galaxies30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance30 minutes
Quiz 630 minutes

What's included

11 videos2 readings12 assignments

11 videosTotal 103 minutes

Large Structure11 minutes
Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum7 minutes
The Large Scale Velocity Field8 minutes
Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering7 minutes
Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations11 minutes
Galaxy Clusters10 minutes
Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification14 minutes
Unification Models5 minutes
AGN Fueling, Jets and Synchrotron Radiation11 minutes
The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds6 minutes
AGN Formation and Evolution9 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

12 assignmentsTotal 360 minutes

Self-Test Questions: Large Structure30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Large Scale Velocity Field30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Clusters30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Unification Models30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: AGN Fueling, Jets, and Synchrotron Radiation30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: AGN Formation and Evolution30 minutes
Quiz 730 minutes

What's included

7 videos2 readings8 assignments

7 videosTotal 97 minutes

The Expanding Universe15 minutes
Cosmological Models22 minutes
Distances in Cosmology11 minutes
Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background17 minutes
The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis8 minutes
The Cosmic Inflation15 minutes
The Very Early Universe7 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

8 assignmentsTotal 240 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The Expanding Universe30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmological Models30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Distances in Cosmology30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Inflation30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Very Early Universe30 minutes
Quiz 830 minutes

What's included

10 videos2 readings11 assignments

10 videosTotal 66 minutes

The Scale of the Universe7 minutes
Distance Indicator Relations7 minutes
Estimating the Age of the Universe4 minutes
Cosmological Tests: An Introduction8 minutes
Supernova Standard Candles5 minutes
Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background5 minutes
Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe9 minutes
Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter5 minutes
The Dark Energy7 minutes
The Cosmic Concordance3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Lesson Slides10 minutes
Lesson Slides10 minutes

11 assignmentsTotal 330 minutes

Self-Test Questions: The Scale of the Universe30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Distance Indicator Relations30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Estimating the Age of the Universe30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmological Tests: An Introduction30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Supernova Standard Candles30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Dark Energy30 minutes
Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Concordance30 minutes
Final Exam30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

4.6 (162 ratings)

S. George Djorgovski

Caltech

1 Course78,904 learners

Offered by

Caltech

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Learner reviews

4.6

836 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
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3 stars
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2 stars
1.91%
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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.

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 Mar 5, 2021

Thank you Prof. Djorgovski. For a school student like me, this course was an exposure to the fascinating world of astrophysics, which I plan to pursue while at college.

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