Course Summary
Explore the wonders of the Solar System in this course. Learn about the history, composition, and dynamics of the planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that make up our cosmic neighborhood.Key Learning Points
- Understand the processes that shape the Solar System and the objects within it
- Explore the latest discoveries and research in planetary science
- Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing data and interpreting scientific evidence
Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have
- USA: $75,000 - $150,000
- India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹20,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €70,000
- USA: $75,000 - $150,000
- India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹20,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €70,000
- USA: $45,000 - $100,000
- India: ₹3,00,000 - ₹12,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €50,000
- USA: $75,000 - $150,000
- India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹20,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €70,000
- USA: $45,000 - $100,000
- India: ₹3,00,000 - ₹12,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €50,000
- USA: $50,000 - $120,000
- India: ₹4,00,000 - ₹15,00,000
- Spain: €25,000 - €60,000
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the formation and evolution of the Solar System
- Analyze and interpret data to draw conclusions about planetary processes
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of physics and mathematics
- Familiarity with scientific terminology
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
- Interactive
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Astronomy
- Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Related Education Paths
- NASA Planetary Science Summer School
- European Space Agency Young Graduate Trainee program
- International Space University Master of Space Studies
Notable People in This Field
- Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Bill Nye
Related Books
Description
Learn about the science behind the current exploration of the solar system in this free class. Use principles from physics, chemistry, biology, and geology to understand the latest from Mars, comprehend the outer solar system, ponder planets outside our solar system, and search for habitability in our neighborhood and beyond. This course is generally taught at an advanced level assuming a prior knowledge of undergraduate math and physics, but the majority of the concepts and lectures can be understood without these prerequisites. The quizzes and final exam are designed to make you think critically about the material you have learned rather than to simply make you memorize facts. The class is expected to be challenging but rewarding.
Outline
- Unit 1: Water on Mars (week 1)
- Introduction to Science of the Solar System
- Lecture 1.01: Early views of Mars
- Lecture 1.02: Mars has canals!
- Lecture 1.03: Taking the temperature of Mars
- Lecture 1.04: Mars DOES have water (in the atmosphere)!
- Lecture 1.05: Heating and composition of the polar caps
- Lecture 1.06: Let's fly to Mars
- Lecture 1.07: The first missions to Mars
- Lecture 1.08: Water on earth
- Lecture 1.09: Mariner 9 -- Mars had FLOWING water!
- Lecture 1.10: Viking and the start of modern Martian science
- Note on the next lecture
- Quiz 1
- Unit 1: Water on Mars (week 2)
- Lecture 1.11: Craters and surface ages
- Lecture 1.12: Outflow channels
- Lecture 1.13:Valley Networks
- Lecture 1.14: Climate cycles on Mars
- Lecture 1.15: Was early Mars warmer and wetter?
- Lecture 1.16: Atmospheric escape
- Lecture 1.17 Martian topography
- Lecture 1.18: Gamma ray spectroscopy and subsurface water
- Lecture 1.19: Glaciers on Mars!
- Lecture 1.20 Origin of low latitude ice
- Quiz 2
- Unit 1: Water on Mars (week 3)
- Lecture 1.21: Evolution of the interior
- Lecture 1.22: Thermal spectroscopy and mineral identification
- Lecture 1.23: Geology from the Opportunity rover
- Lecture 1.24: Geochemistry from the Opportunity rover
- Lecture 1.25: Introduction to guest lecturers
- Lecture 1.26: Mineralogy on Mars, Part 1
- Lecture 1.27: Mineralogy on Mars, Part 2
- Lecture 1.28: Results from the Curiosity Rover, Part 1
- lecture 1.29: Results from the Curiosity Rover, Part 2
- Lecture 1.30: Where was the water on Mars?
- Note on the next lectures
- Quiz 3
- Unit 2: The insides of giant planets (week 1)
- Lecture 2.01: Introduction to Jupiter
- Lecture 2.02: Measuring density
- Lecture 2.03: Using density
- Lecture 2.04: Hydrostatic equilibrium
- Lecture 2.05: Hydrogen equation of state
- Lecture 2.06: Heat transport
- Lecture 2.07: Theoretical internal structure
- Lecture 2.08: A core from gravity?
- Lecture 2.09: Magnetic fields
- Lecture 2.10: The upper atmosphere and the Galileo probe
- Lecture 2.11: Picture models
- Note on the next section
- Quiz 4
- Unit 2: The insides of giant planets (week 2)
- Lecture 2.12: Planetesimal formation
- Lecture 2.13: Core formation
- Lecture 2.14: Core-collapse vs. Disk instability
- Lecture 2.15: Saturn and the ice giants
- Lecture 2.16: Discovering hot Jupiters
- Lecture 2.17: Densities of hot Jupiters
- Lecture 2.18: Inflating hot Jupiters
- Lecture 2.19: Kepler and the sub-Neptunes
- Lecture 2.20: Exoplanet spectroscopy
- Lecture 2.21: Juno and future exploration
- Quiz 5
- Unit 3: Big questions from small bodies (week 1)
- Lecture 3.01: Introduction to the small bodies
- Lecture 3.02: The formation of small bodies
- Lecture 3.03: The formation of terrestrial planets
- Lecture 3.04: The surface density of the solar system
- Lecture 3.05: An ode to comets
- Lecture 3.06: The composition of comets
- Lecture 3.07: Where do comets come from?
- Lecture 3.08: The formation of the Oort cloud
- Lecture 3.09: Meteorites and the beginning of the solar system
- Lecture 3.10: Types of meteorites: Chondrites
- Lecture 3.11: Types of meteorites: Achondrites
- Lecture 3.12: Asteroids and meteorite delivery
- Quiz 6
- Unit 3: Big questions from small bodies (week 2)
- Lecture 3.13: Asteroid compositions
- Lecture 3.14 : Pictures of asteroids
- Lecture 3.15: Asteroid hazards
- Lecture 3.16: The Kuiper belt
- Lecture 3.17: Properties of dwarf planets
- Lecture 3.18: Dynamical instabilities
- Lecture 3.19:The Grand Tack
- Lecture 3.20: Planet Nine
- Lecture 3.21: A trip to the Subaru telescope
- Quiz 7
- Unit 4: Life in the solar system (week 1)
- Lecture 4.01: Introduction to life
- Lecture 4.02: Photosynthesis
- Lecture 4.03: Water
- Lecture 4.04: Alternative energy sources
- Lecture 4.05: History of life on Earth
- Lecture 4.06: Mars -- The Viking experiement
- Lecture 4.07: Mars -- Microbial hitchhikers
- Lecture 4.08: Mars -- Methane?
- Lecture 4.09: Mars -- Methane!!
- Lecture 4.10: Mars -- a habitable environment
- Quiz 8
- Unit 4: Life in the solar system and beyond (week 2)
- Lecture 4.11: Oceans on Europa
- Lecture 4.12: Energy on Europa
- Lecture 4.13: Exploring Europa
- Lecture 4.14: Enceladus
- Lecture 4.15: Introduction to Titan
- Lecture 4.16: Weird life on Titan
- Lecture 4.17: Habitable zones
- Lecture 4.18: Detecting exo-life
- Lecture 4.19: Looking around M-dwarfs
- Lecture 4.20: A mission to find life in the solar system
- Lecture 4.21: All good things must come to an end
- Quiz 9
- Final exam
- Bonus: The formation of the moon
- Bonus: What we used to think about Sedna (before we knew about Planet Nine!)
- Bonus: Seasons on Titan
- Bonus: Why Pluto had to die
- Bonus material
- Final exam
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the wonders of our solar system with this highly rated course on Coursera. Students praise the engaging lectures and comprehensive content that covers everything from the planets to the sun and beyond.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
engaging lecturesPros from User Reviews
- comprehensive content
- easy to understand
- great visuals
- accessible to beginners
- interesting assignments
Cons from User Reviews
- slow pacing at times
- lack of interaction with instructor
- some technical issues
- not enough hands-on activities
- limited discussion forums
Mike BrownTop Instructor
4.8 Raiting
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