Free online courseGeneral Astronomy

Course Description

Welcome to "General Astronomy," a comprehensive course designed to immerse you in the captivating world of astronomy. Spanning 15 hours and 56 minutes, this course is a meticulously structured journey through the various phases and concepts that define this scientific field. Though categorized under "Others," it specifically delves into the rich and intriguing subcategory of Astronomy. Whether you are a budding astronomer or simply a science enthusiast, this course has something to captivate your intellectual curiosity.

The course begins with an introductory lecture that sets the stage for your astronomical pursuits. It offers a historical framework with "The Ancient Views of the Heavens," followed by a closer look at "The Copernican Revolution," guiding you through the very inception of astronomical thought and its evolution over the centuries. "Making Sense of the Universe" and "Patterns in the Night Sky" are designed to help you understand the celestial patterns and theories that have been observed and formulated over time.

Understanding cosmic phenomena such as "The Reason for Seasons" and "Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon" provides you with foundational knowledge about Earth's relationship with the cosmos. A "Tour of the Solar System" and "The Origin of the Solar System" take you on an exploratory adventure across various celestial bodies orbiting our Sun, preparing you for deeper insights into planetary formation and geology.

The segment on planetary geology, beginning with "An Introduction to Planetary Geology" and proceeding to the "Geology of the Terrestrial Planets" and "The Unique Geology of Earth," examines the physical characteristics and geological activities of planets, with a special focus on Earth. This is seamlessly woven into a discussion on planetary atmospheres, offering lectures on "Earth's Atmospheric Structure and Magnetic Field" and the "Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets."

Advanced topics like "Earth's Atmospheric History and Climate Change" explore the evolution of Earth's atmosphere and the climatic shifts that have occurred over millennia. The course then transitions to a thorough examination of light and its properties, including "The Nature of Light" and "Learning From Light," elucidating how astronomers use light to gather information about distant celestial objects.

The course also covers the Sun's fascinating properties, with lectures on "Why the Sun Shines" and "The Structure of the Sun," before moving on to stellar phenomena with "The Nature of the Stars" and "Stellar Classification and the H-R Diagram." These sections are key to understanding the lifecycle of stars, including "The Formation of a Protostar," "The Evolution of a Protostar," and the various stages of "The Lives of Stars."

Explorations into the "Fates of Low and Intermediate-Mass Stars" and "The Fates of High-Mass Stars" will deepen your understanding of stellar end stages, such as "Neutron Stars and Black Holes." Each lecture builds a solid foundation while engaging you with the mysteries and wonders of the universe, making "General Astronomy" a comprehensive and enriching educational experience.