Course Summary
Explore the evolving universe through this fascinating course that covers the history of the universe and the latest scientific discoveries.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the Big Bang and how it led to the creation of galaxies and stars
- Study the different types of galaxies and the theories behind their formation
- Discover the latest research on dark matter and dark energy
Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have
- Astrophysicist
- USA: $96,542
- India: ₹1,557,019
- Spain: €42,867
- Research Scientist
- USA: $79,529
- India: ₹1,271,042
- Spain: €35,000
- Science Writer
- USA: $61,820
- India: ₹990,000
- Spain: €27,000
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the history of the universe and how it has evolved over time
- Gain knowledge about the latest scientific discoveries in astrophysics
- Develop critical thinking skills through analysis and interpretation of scientific data
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of physics and astronomy
- Interest in understanding the history of the universe
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-Paced
Similar Courses
- Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space
- The Modern and the Postmodern
Related Education Paths
Related Books
Description
This is an introductory astronomy survey class that covers our understanding of the physical universe and its major constituents, including planetary systems, stars, galaxies, black holes, quasars, larger structures, and the universe as a whole.
Outline
- Week 1
- Welcome
- The Oldest Science
- Astronomy as a Science
- Messengers from the Universe
- Distances and Scales
- Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System
- Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: The Oldest Science
- Self-Test Questions: Astronomy as a Science
- Self-Test Questions: Messengers from the Universe
- Self-Test Questions: Distances and Scales
- Self-Test Questions: Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System
- Self-Test Questions: Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation
- Quiz 1
- Week 2
- Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR)
- Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution
- Detectors (UV, Visible, and IR)
- Radio Telescopes
- X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes
- Non-Electromagnetic Observations
- Basics and Kirchoff's Laws
- The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines
- Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms
- Fluxes and Magnitudes
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR)
- Self-Test Questions: Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution
- Self-Test Questions: Detectors (UV, Visible, IR)
- Self-Test Questions: Radio Telescopes
- Self-Test Questions: X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes
- Self-Test Questions: Non-Electromagnetic Observations
- Self-Test Questions: Basics and Kirchoff's Laws
- Self-Test Questions: The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines
- Self-Test Questions: Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms
- Self-Test Questions: Fluxes and Magnitudes
- Quiz 2
- Week 3
- Interstellar Medium: General Properties
- Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening
- Star Formation
- Formation of Planetary Systems
- Contents of the Solar System
- Formation of the Solar System
- Planetary Atmospheres
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Medium: General Properties
- Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening
- Self-Test Questions: Star Formation
- Self-Test Questions: Formation of Planetary Systems
- Self-Test Questions: Contents of the Solar System
- Self-Test Questions: Formation of the Solar System
- Self-Test Questions: Planetary Atmospheres
- Quiz 3
- Week 4
- Thermodynamics of Planets
- Searching for Exosolar Planets
- Studying Other Worlds
- Life in the Universe
- Stellar Structure Basics
- Energy Generation in Stars
- Energy Transport in Stars
- The Sun Our Star
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: Thermodynamics of Planets
- Self-Test Questions: Searching for Exosolar Planets
- Self-Test Questions: Studying Other Worlds
- Self-Test Questions: Life in the Universe
- Self-Test Questions: Stellar Structure Basics
- Self-Test Questions: Energy Generation in Stars
- Self-Test Questions: Energy Transport in Stars
- Self-Test Questions: The Sun Our Star
- Quiz 4
- Week 5
- The HR Diagram
- Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution
- Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics
- The Main Sequence
- Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence
- White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries
- Supernova Types and Type 1A
- Core-Collapse Supernovae
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: The HR Diagram
- Self-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution
- Self-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics
- Self-Test Questions: The Main Sequence
- Self-Test Questions: Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence
- Self-Test Questions: White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries
- Self-Test Questions: Supernova Types and Type 1A
- Self-Test Questions: Core-Collapse Supernovae
- Midterm Exam
- Week 6
- Neutron Stars and Pulsars
- Stellar Black Holes
- Gamma-Ray Bursts
- Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei
- The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy
- Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo
- The Origin of Spiral Arms
- The Local Group of Galaxies
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: Neutron Stars and Pulsars
- Self-Test Questions: Stellar Black Holes
- Self-Test Questions: Gamma-Ray Bursts
- Self-Test Questions: Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei
- Self-Test Questions: The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo
- Self-Test Questions: The Origin of Spiral Arms
- Self-Test Questions: The Local Group of Galaxies
- Quiz 5
- Week 7
- Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence
- Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and their Origins
- Galaxy Interactions and Mergers
- Quantifying Galaxy Properties
- Galaxy Scaling Relations
- Galaxy Evolution: The Basics
- Observations of Galaxy Evolution
- The Cosmic Star Formation History
- Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium
- The Earliest Galaxies
- Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence
- Self-Test Questions: Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and Their Origins
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Interactions and Mergers
- Self-Test Questions: Quantifying Galaxy Properties
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Scaling Relations
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Evolution: The Basics
- Self-Test Questions: Observations of Galaxy Evolution
- Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Star Formation History
- Self-Test Questions: Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium
- Self-Test Questions: The Earliest Galaxies
- Self-Test Questions: Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance
- Quiz 6
- Week 8
- Large Structure
- Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum
- The Large Scale Velocity Field
- Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering
- Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations
- Galaxy Clusters
- Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification
- Unification Models
- AGN Fueling, Jets and Synchrotron Radiation
- The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds
- AGN Formation and Evolution
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: Large Structure
- Self-Test Questions: Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum
- Self-Test Questions: The Large Scale Velocity Field
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering
- Self-Test Questions: Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations
- Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Clusters
- Self-Test Questions: Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification
- Self-Test Questions: Unification Models
- Self-Test Questions: AGN Fueling, Jets, and Synchrotron Radiation
- Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds
- Self-Test Questions: AGN Formation and Evolution
- Quiz 7
- Week 9
- The Expanding Universe
- Cosmological Models
- Distances in Cosmology
- Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background
- The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
- The Cosmic Inflation
- The Very Early Universe
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: The Expanding Universe
- Self-Test Questions: Cosmological Models
- Self-Test Questions: Distances in Cosmology
- Self-Test Questions: Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background
- Self-Test Questions: The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
- Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Inflation
- Self-Test Questions: The Very Early Universe
- Quiz 8
- Week 10
- The Scale of the Universe
- Distance Indicator Relations
- Estimating the Age of the Universe
- Cosmological Tests: An Introduction
- Supernova Standard Candles
- Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background
- Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe
- Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter
- The Dark Energy
- The Cosmic Concordance
- Lesson Slides
- Lesson Slides
- Self-Test Questions: The Scale of the Universe
- Self-Test Questions: Distance Indicator Relations
- Self-Test Questions: Estimating the Age of the Universe
- Self-Test Questions: Cosmological Tests: An Introduction
- Self-Test Questions: Supernova Standard Candles
- Self-Test Questions: Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background
- Self-Test Questions: Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe
- Self-Test Questions: Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter
- Self-Test Questions: The Dark Energy
- Self-Test Questions: The Cosmic Concordance
- Final Exam
Summary of User Reviews
The Evolving Universe is a highly-rated course on Coursera that provides a comprehensive overview of the history and evolution of the universe. Many users praise the course's engaging lectures and clear explanations.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Engaging lectures and clear explanationsPros from User Reviews
- In-depth coverage of the universe's history and evolution
- Expert instructors with extensive knowledge and experience
- Engaging and informative lectures that are easy to follow
- High production value and professional presentation
- Interactive quizzes and assignments that reinforce learning
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users may find the course material too advanced or technical
- Limited opportunities for interaction and discussion with other students
- Not suitable for those looking for a more hands-on or practical learning experience
- The course may require a significant time commitment to complete
- Some users may find the course's pace to be too slow or too fast
S. George Djorgovski
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