Confronting The Big Questions: Highlights of Modern Astronomy
- 4.6
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Approx. 11 hours to complete
Course Summary
This course in Astronomy covers everything from the origins of the universe, to the solar system and beyond. It is a great starting point for anyone interested in the wonders of space and the secrets it holds.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the history and principles of Astronomy
- Discover the wonders of the solar system and beyond
- Understand the latest discoveries and advancements in the field
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the fundamentals of Astronomy
- Gain knowledge of the latest discoveries and advancements
- Develop a love for the wonders of space
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic understanding of science and math
- Interest in space and the universe
Course Difficulty Level
BeginnerCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Astrophysics: Exploring Exoplanets
- Cosmology and Astronomy: The Big Questions
- Introduction to Solar System Astronomy
Related Education Paths
- Astrophysics and Cosmology Certification
- Space Science and Technology Certification
- Astronomy and Planetary Science Certification
Related Books
Description
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.
Outline
- Are we alone in the Universe?
- Introduction
- Scientific Notation
- Our Place in the Cosmos
- Comparative Planetology
- Terrestrial Planets
- Giant Planets
- Gas Vs Ice Giants
- Construction Debris
- Exoplanets
- Understanding Ellipses
- Radial Velocities and the Doppler Shift
- Transiting Planets
- The Habitable Zone
- What Exoplanets Have Taught Us
- Condensation Theory
- Planet Formation
- Basic Chemistry
- DNA and RNA
- Appearance of Life
- Are We Alone?
- General Overview
- Grading and Logistics
- Syllabus
- About the Professor
- About the Teaching Assistant
- Optional Readings
- Exercises and Activities
- Lecture Notes
- Week 1 Quiz
- How do Stars Evolve and Die?
- Stars - Introduction
- Nuclear Fusion
- The Nature of Light
- Quantum Physics
- Measuring Stars
- Forming a Protostar
- Brown Dwarfs And Very Low Mass Stars
- The Structure of a G2 Main Sequence Star
- Solar Magnetic Features
- Red Giants and Planetary Nebulae
- White Dwarfs
- Supernovas and Neutron Stars
- Frames of Reference
- Special Relativity
- General Relativity
- Escape Velocity
- Black Holes
- Journey into a Black Hole
- Answering the Question
- Week 2 Quiz
- What Exists Outside our Galaxy?
- Galaxies Introduction
- Interstellar Medium
- Galactic Distances
- Climbing the Cosmic Distance Ladder
- Type Ia Supernovae
- Metallicity
- The Milky Way
- The Galactic Disk
- The Stellar Halo and the Bulgy Bar
- The Galactic Center
- Galactic Zoology
- Introduction to Dark Matter
- Types of Active Galactic Nuclei
- Unified Model for AGN
- Galaxy Groups and Clusters
- Superclusters
- Answering the Question
- Week 3 Quiz
- What is the Fate of the Universe?
- Introduction
- Hubble’s Law and the Big Bang
- Space-Time and Quantum Fields
- The Standard Model of Particle Physics
- Dark Matter
- In the Beginning
- Phase Transitions in the Early Universe
- BBN and Recombination
- Observational Evidence
- The Beginning of Large Scale Structure
- The Era of Quasars
- Dark Energy and Cosmic Destiny
- The Multiverse
- Recap-History of the Cosmos
- Answering the Question
- Week 4 Quiz
Summary of User Reviews
Learn about the wonders of the universe with Coursera's Astronomy course. Students have praised the course for its engaging professors, comprehensive curriculum, and hands-on learning experience.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Many users enjoyed the engaging professors who made the course material come alive.Pros from User Reviews
- Comprehensive curriculum covering a wide range of topics in astronomy
- Hands-on learning experience with interactive simulations and quizzes
- Access to expert professors who are passionate about the subject matter
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course to be too challenging, particularly for those without a strong background in science
- The course can be time-consuming, requiring a significant amount of time and effort to complete
- Some users felt that the assessments were too difficult or poorly designed
Adam Frank
4.6 Raiting
Confronting The Big Questions: Highlights of Modern Astronomy
- 4.6
-
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An introduction to modern astronomy's most important questions. Are we alone in the Universe? Introduction Scientific Notation Our Place in the Cosmos...
