Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space from Coursera

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Syllabus

Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space

Here you can find all of the introductory information, course syllabus, and current announcements.

Science and History

Science combines logic and evidence to increase our understanding of the natural world, including remote and inaccessible regions of space and time.

The Night Sky

Astronomy is the oldest science, and its history shows a growing realization of our insignificant status in a vast and ancient universe.

The Tools of Astronomy

A continuing revolution in telescope design and construction is giving astronomers an unprecedented set of tools for exploring the universe.

Matter and Radiation

Astronomers harvest information across the electromagnetic spectrum, using spectra to measure the composition of distant objects and diagnose extreme physical conditions.

The Solar System

Space probes have visited most planets in the Solar System, and orbiters and rovers are homing in on the habitability of Mars. Space exploration is entering an entrepreneurial phase that might let us venture beyond the Solar System.

Exoplanets

In the last few years, thousands of extrasolar planets have been discovered, including some that are Earth-like and possibly habitable.

Star Birth and Death

Stars are the crucibles of heavy element creation, and the chaotic regions of their birth are being understood though long wavelength observations. Gravity is the ultimate victor in the life story of any star, leaving behind the exotic end states of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.

Galaxies

The architecture of the Milky Way galaxy is that of a disk, a bulge, and a halo, with the entire assemblage bound by enigmatic dark matter. Every galaxy contains a supermassive black hole, and entire population of galaxies is sculpted by gravity into subtle structures on large scales.

Cosmology

The expanding universe points back to an extraordinary state of extremely high density and temperature called the big bang.

Life in the Universe

The Earth gives us a ringside seat on the physical, chemical, geological, and biological evolution of a dynamic terrestrial planet. The abundance of terrestrial planets in remote solar systems motivates the search for life and technology elsewhere in the universe.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops foundational knowledge in modern astronomy, which is standard in the field

Introduces non-science students to astronomical concepts at an introductory level

Takes a multi-modal approach to teaching astronomy, including videos, readings, and discussions

Taught by Chris Impey, who is recognized for their work in astronomy

Offers a comprehensive study of astronomy, covering topics from the night sky to cosmology

Requires no background in astronomy, making it accessible to beginners

Reviews summary

Astronomy: exploring time and space

This course provides a comprehensive overview of astronomy, covering topics ranging from the history of the field to the latest discoveries in cosmology and astrobiology. Led by Distinguished Professor Chris Impey, the course offers a well-structured and engaging learning experience, with a variety of interactive assignments and resources. Participants can expect to gain a solid understanding of the universe, its origins, and the potential for life beyond Earth.

The course has helpful assignments, but some could be more difficult to improve the learning experience.

"I found this course to be a useful summary of current knowledge on the universe. There were a number of areas where more mathematics could have been useful to me but I recognise that the intention was not to give full mathematical justifications - just an overview."

"Un curso excelente, que superó ampliamente mis expectativas. Destaco la claridad con la que enseña el profesor Chris Impey . A partir de este curso, pasé de tener inquietudes sobre el tema, a apasionarme por la astronomía. Totalemente recomendable. Gracias!!! "

"One of the best courses I have taken so far. Chris Impey is so passionate about this subject, it gives you a gigantic source of motivation making the course easy to understand from start to finish."

"I thought this course was outstanding. The content was very interesting. I especially appreciated the delivery and style of Prof. Chris Impey in the lectures. It was easy to follow, very informative, and kept my attention."

"Covers everything related to astronomy and the difficulty level is just right especially for beginners."

"I had no words to describe my enthusiasm and my gratitude to Prof Impey and all the coursera team. Definitely, one of the best structured and updated courses. Strongly recommended. Nevertheless, quizzes should be slightly more difficult. "

Learners say the course is largely positive, engaging, challenging, well received, easy to understand, and inspiring.

"The course was amazing and has a lot of informations for those who wants to study astronomy and to do something new."

"This course has been a delight to me for the past 3 months. Professor Impey is an outstanding one and I am looking forward to taking "Astrobiology: Exploring Other Worlds" as I am quite sure that it's equally interesting and stimulating :)"

"Good comprehensive course. Some of the videos and materials now out of date and could do with updating, e.g. could talk more about the James Webb Telescope, and MicroObservatory and GalaxyZoo does not always work. But that is my only issue."

"This is a great introduction to Astronomy that covers a lot of ground. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the video lectures and feel like I've a better understanding of the field of Astronomy."

"Covering major themes in astronomy, the course blends comprehensive content with engaging visuals, creating an accessible yet enriching experience."

"If someone is interested in Astronomy, taking this course one of the best investment of his time. The course is instructed by a brilliant instructor Chris Impey. He makes difficult concepts easy to understand from start to finish. He's a great teacher, explaining all of the course with excellence."

Professor Chris Impey is an excellent and engaging instructor who presents complex topics in a clear and understandable way.

"He makes difficult concepts easy to understand from start to finish. He's a great teacher, explaining all of the course with excellence."

"Covering major themes in astronomy, the course blends comprehensive content with engaging visuals, creating an accessible yet enriching experience."

"If someone is interested in Astronomy, taking this course one of the best investment of his time. The course is instructed by a brilliant instructor Chris Impey."

"One of the best courses I have taken so far. Chris Impey is so passionate about this subject, it gives you a gigantic source of motivation making the course easy to understand from start to finish."

Some learners note that parts of the course are outdated and could benefit from updates.

"This course, I must say, will be the best you ever have attended. Professor Impey is the best. His lectures are so interesting, you will never be bored and at the end of every week, you will feel real good like you actually learned something."

"Enjoyed the live question and answer sessions with Professor Chris Impey. The course was comprehensive and an enjoyable introduction to astronomy."

"Spent a worthy time throughout the duration of the course. All the explanations were concise and understandable for a novice like me aiming to explore the space in the near distant future. An awesome place to start with! The perfect launchpad for future aspiring space enthusiasts."

"Thank you very much for this course!I've learned a lot in every week!There are so many information!The quiz is from easy to difficult which needs to understand before answering it!I hope many teachers/students will finish this course for their knowledge improvement about Astronomy."

"This course teaches astronomy concepts in an easy-to-understand way, and the interactive activity at the end helps to give you perspective as to how astronomers analyze images of objects from space."

"Really helped improve my astronomy hobby and I got access to a wealth of resources on the subject."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space with these activities:

Review basic algebra

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Students will be more familiar with the math needed to succeed in this course if they review algebra

Browse courses on Algebra

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Go over notes from an algebra class
Read a textbook on Algebra I

Review 'A Brief History of Time'

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This book can help students understand some of the complex concepts that will be covered in this course

View You and the Universe on Amazon

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Read the book
Take notes on the key concepts
Discuss the book with a friend or classmate

Solve astronomy practice problems

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Practice problems can help students solidify their understanding of the course material

Browse courses on Astronomy

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Find a set of astronomy practice problems online or in a textbook
Solve the problems on your own
Check your answers against the answer key

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Watch video tutorials on astronomy

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Video tutorials can help students learn about the course material in a more engaging way

Browse courses on Astronomy

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Find a set of astronomy video tutorials online
Watch the videos and take notes
Test your understanding by answering the quiz questions at the end of each video

Create a presentation on a topic in astronomy

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Creating a presentation can help students develop a deeper understanding of a topic and improve their communication skills

Browse courses on Astronomy

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Choose a topic in astronomy that you are interested in
Research the topic and gather information from a variety of sources
Create a presentation using slides, images, and videos
Practice your presentation and get feedback from a friend or classmate
Present your presentation to the class

Attend a study group for astronomy

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Study groups can help students learn from each other and improve their understanding of the course material

Browse courses on Astronomy

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Find a study group for astronomy
Attend the study group meetings regularly
Participate in the discussions and ask questions

Participate in an astronomy competition

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Competitions can help students test their knowledge of astronomy and motivate them to learn more

Browse courses on Astronomy

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Find an astronomy competition that you are interested in
Register for the competition
Study for the competition and prepare your materials
Compete in the competition and do your best

Contribute to an open-source astronomy project

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Contributing to an open-source project can give students hands-on experience with astronomy software and allow them to make a real contribution to the research community

Browse courses on Astronomy

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Find an open-source astronomy project that you are interested in
Join the project community and learn about the project's goals and methods
Find a way to contribute to the project, such as writing code, testing software, or writing documentation
Submit your contributions to the project and get feedback from the community

Career center

Learners who complete Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Astronomer

An astronomer applies the principles of physics and mathematics to study celestial bodies and the universe in its entirety. Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space can help an astronomer by showing the most recent astronomical discoveries, which can help them shape further study and research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astronomer

Astrophysicist

An astrophysicist uses the laws of physics to explain astronomical objects and phenomena. This course shows the tools of astronomy and shows how this field has grown to include geologists, chemists, and computer scientists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astrophysicist

Spacecraft Engineer

A spacecraft engineer may use principles from astronomy to design, manufacture, and test spacecraft and their systems. This field is constantly changing, and this course will help give a good foundation for those who want to work in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Spacecraft Engineer

Astronaut

An astronaut, sometimes known as an outer space traveller, is a person trained to travel into space and work in space, and may perform scientific experiments, maintain equipment, and conduct spacewalks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astronaut

Astrobiologist

An astrobiologist studies the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This course will help an astrobiologist understand the search for life and technology elsewhere in the universe.

See salaries and explore the career path for Astrobiologist

Science Teacher

A science teacher may teach astronomy, which is the oldest science. This course would help a science teacher prepare the curriculum for this subject and give the most up-to-date discoveries.

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Science Writer

A science writer may write articles and books about astronomy topics. For a science writer wanting to write about astronomy, this course would help them learn new information to communicate to their audiences.

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Geologist

A geologist may study the history and composition of the Earth and other planets using the principles of astronomy. This course may help one understand how astronomy has helped geologists understand our planet.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geologist

Chemical Engineer

A chemical engineer may use principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and economics to solve problems in fields such as manufacturing, energy, and medicine. This course details how astronomy harvests information across the electromagnetic spectrum.

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Computer Scientist

A computer scientist may use principles from astronomy to improve technology. This course would help them understand how computer scientists have helped the field of astronomy with a revolution in telescope design and construction.

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Physicist

A physicist may study the universe, but not necessarily through an astronomical approach. This course will help a physicist understand how astronomy uses principles from physics.

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Mathematician

A mathematician may use principles from astronomy to solve problems. This course will help a mathematician understand how astronomy uses principles from mathematics.

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Economist

An economist may use principles from astronomy to understand the universe and economic behavior. While this course may not seem directly relevant, it will give an economist a good foundation.

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Historian

A historian may study the history of science, including astronomy. This course details the history of astronomy through the ages, which could be good for a historian.

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Philosopher

A philosopher may study the nature of the universe and our place within it. This course would help a philosopher with understanding topics such as the creation of the universe and the search for other life in the universe.

See salaries and explore the career path for Philosopher