4.6
stars
756 ratings

S. George Djorgovski

70,039 already enrolled

Offered By

The Evolving Universe

Caltech

About this Course

24,670 recent views

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.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 65 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 65 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.55/5 (133 Ratings)

S. George Djorgovski

Offered by

Caltech

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution, where extraordinary faculty and students seek answers to complex questions, discover new knowledge, lead innovation, and transform our future. Caltech's mission is to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education. We investigate the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere, while educating outstanding students to become creative members of society.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating96%(7,013 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

5 hours to complete

Week 1

5 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 90 min), 2 readings, 7 quizzes

7 videos

Welcome1mThe Oldest Science6mAstronomy as a Science12mMessengers from the Universe21mDistances and Scales18mKepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System23mCelestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation6m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

7 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: The Oldest Science30mSelf-Test Questions: Astronomy as a Science30mSelf-Test Questions: Messengers from the Universe30mSelf-Test Questions: Distances and Scales30mSelf-Test Questions: Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and Dynamics of the Solar System30mSelf-Test Questions: Celestial Coordinate Systems, Time Systems, and Earth Rotation30mQuiz 130m

Week2

Week 2

7 hours to complete

Week 2

7 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 97 min), 2 readings, 11 quizzes

10 videos

Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR)13mGeometric Optics, Angular Resolution11mDetectors (UV, Visible, and IR)9mRadio Telescopes7mX-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes6mNon-Electromagnetic Observations4mBasics and Kirchoff's Laws11mThe Origin of Spectroscopic Lines12mBlackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms9mFluxes and Magnitudes8m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

11 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: Optical Telescopes (UV, Visible, IR)30mSelf-Test Questions: Geometric Optics, Angular Resolution30mSelf-Test Questions: Detectors (UV, Visible, IR)30mSelf-Test Questions: Radio Telescopes30mSelf-Test Questions: X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes30mSelf-Test Questions: Non-Electromagnetic Observations30mSelf-Test Questions: Basics and Kirchoff's Laws30mSelf-Test Questions: The Origin of Spectroscopic Lines30mSelf-Test Questions: Blackbody Radiation and Other Continuum Emission Mechanisms30mSelf-Test Questions: Fluxes and Magnitudes30mQuiz 230m

Week3

Week 3

6 hours to complete

Week 3

6 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 87 min), 2 readings, 8 quizzes

7 videos

Interstellar Medium: General Properties14mInterstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening8mStar Formation17mFormation of Planetary Systems3mContents of the Solar System23mFormation of the Solar System14mPlanetary Atmospheres4m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

8 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: Interstellar Medium: General Properties30mSelf-Test Questions: Interstellar Dust: Extinction and Reddening30mSelf-Test Questions: Star Formation30mSelf-Test Questions: Formation of Planetary Systems30mSelf-Test Questions: Contents of the Solar System30mSelf-Test Questions: Formation of the Solar System30mSelf-Test Questions: Planetary Atmospheres30mQuiz 330m

Week4

Week 4

6 hours to complete

Week 4

6 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 88 min), 2 readings, 9 quizzes

8 videos

Thermodynamics of Planets14mSearching for Exosolar Planets13mStudying Other Worlds9mLife in the Universe9mStellar Structure Basics10mEnergy Generation in Stars11mEnergy Transport in Stars3mThe Sun Our Star16m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

9 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: Thermodynamics of Planets30mSelf-Test Questions: Searching for Exosolar Planets30mSelf-Test Questions: Studying Other Worlds30mSelf-Test Questions: Life in the Universe30mSelf-Test Questions: Stellar Structure Basics30mSelf-Test Questions: Energy Generation in Stars30mSelf-Test Questions: Energy Transport in Stars30mSelf-Test Questions: The Sun Our Star30mQuiz 430m

Week5

Week 5

6 hours to complete

Week 5

6 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 78 min), 2 readings, 9 quizzes

8 videos

The HR Diagram5mStar Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution6mStar Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics8mThe Main Sequence10mStellar Evolution After the Main Sequence12mWhite Dwarfs and Contact Binaries16mSupernova Types and Type 1A8mCore-Collapse Supernovae9m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

9 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: The HR Diagram30mSelf-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Evolution30mSelf-Test Questions: Star Clusters: Probes of Stellar Dynamics30mSelf-Test Questions: The Main Sequence30mSelf-Test Questions: Stellar Evolution After the Main Sequence30mSelf-Test Questions: White Dwarfs and Contact Binaries30mSelf-Test Questions: Supernova Types and Type 1A30mSelf-Test Questions: Core-Collapse Supernovae30mMidterm Exam30m

Week6

Week 6

6 hours to complete

Week 6

6 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 83 min), 2 readings, 9 quizzes

8 videos

Neutron Stars and Pulsars14mStellar Black Holes14mGamma-Ray Bursts7mSupermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei7mThe Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy13mGalaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo12mThe Origin of Spiral Arms8mThe Local Group of Galaxies5m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

9 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: Neutron Stars and Pulsars30mSelf-Test Questions: Stellar Black Holes30mSelf-Test Questions: Gamma-Ray Bursts30mSelf-Test Questions: Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei30mSelf-Test Questions: The Basic Properties and Components of the Galaxy30mSelf-Test Questions: Galaxy Rotation and the Dark Halo30mSelf-Test Questions: The Origin of Spiral Arms30mSelf-Test Questions: The Local Group of Galaxies30mQuiz 530m

Week7

Week 7

8 hours to complete

Week 7

8 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 84 min), 2 readings, 12 quizzes

11 videos

Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence10mTrends Along the Hubble Sequence and their Origins9mGalaxy Interactions and Mergers6mQuantifying Galaxy Properties9mGalaxy Scaling Relations7mGalaxy Evolution: The Basics9mObservations of Galaxy Evolution8mThe Cosmic Star Formation History6mCosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium5mThe Earliest Galaxies7mReionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance3m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

12 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: Galaxy Morphology and the Hubble Sequence30mSelf-Test Questions: Trends Along the Hubble Sequence and Their Origins30mSelf-Test Questions: Galaxy Interactions and Mergers30mSelf-Test Questions: Quantifying Galaxy Properties30mSelf-Test Questions: Galaxy Scaling Relations30mSelf-Test Questions: Galaxy Evolution: The Basics30mSelf-Test Questions: Observations of Galaxy Evolution30mSelf-Test Questions: The Cosmic Star Formation History30mSelf-Test Questions: Cosmic Web: The Intergalactic Medium30mSelf-Test Questions: The Earliest Galaxies30mSelf-Test Questions: Reionization Era: The Cosmic Renaissance30mQuiz 630m

Week8

Week 8

8 hours to complete

Week 8

8 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 104 min), 2 readings, 12 quizzes

11 videos

Large Structure11mQuantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum7mThe Large Scale Velocity Field8mGalaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering7mStructure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations11mGalaxy Clusters10mQuasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification14mUnification Models5mAGN Fueling, Jets and Synchrotron Radiation11mThe Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds6mAGN Formation and Evolution9m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

12 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: Large Structure30mSelf-Test Questions: Quantifying Large Scale Structure: Galaxy Correlations and Power Spectrum30mSelf-Test Questions: The Large Scale Velocity Field30mSelf-Test Questions: Galaxy Bias and the Evolution of Clustering30mSelf-Test Questions: Structure Formation: The Growth of Density Perturbations30mSelf-Test Questions: Galaxy Clusters30mSelf-Test Questions: Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: General Properties and Classification30mSelf-Test Questions: Unification Models30mSelf-Test Questions: AGN Fueling, Jets, and Synchrotron Radiation30mSelf-Test Questions: The Cosmic High Energy Backgrounds30mSelf-Test Questions: AGN Formation and Evolution30mQuiz 730m

Week9

Week 9

6 hours to complete

Week 9

6 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 97 min), 2 readings, 8 quizzes

7 videos

The Expanding Universe15mCosmological Models22mDistances in Cosmology11mBasic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background17mThe Big Bang Nucleosynthesis8mThe Cosmic Inflation15mThe Very Early Universe7m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

8 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: The Expanding Universe30mSelf-Test Questions: Cosmological Models30mSelf-Test Questions: Distances in Cosmology30mSelf-Test Questions: Basic Ideas and the Cosmic Microwave Background30mSelf-Test Questions: The Big Bang Nucleosynthesis30mSelf-Test Questions: The Cosmic Inflation30mSelf-Test Questions: The Very Early Universe30mQuiz 830m

Week10

Week 10

7 hours to complete

Week 10

7 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 67 min), 2 readings, 11 quizzes

10 videos

The Scale of the Universe7mDistance Indicator Relations7mEstimating the Age of the Universe4mCosmological Tests: An Introduction8mSupernova Standard Candles5mCosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background5mMatter and Energy Contents of the Universe9mGravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter5mThe Dark Energy7mThe Cosmic Concordance3m

2 readings

Lesson Slides10mLesson Slides10m

11 practice exercises

Self-Test Questions: The Scale of the Universe30mSelf-Test Questions: Distance Indicator Relations30mSelf-Test Questions: Estimating the Age of the Universe30mSelf-Test Questions: Cosmological Tests: An Introduction30mSelf-Test Questions: Supernova Standard Candles30mSelf-Test Questions: Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background30mSelf-Test Questions: Matter and Energy Contents of the Universe30mSelf-Test Questions: Gravitational Lensing: Mapping the Dark Matter30mSelf-Test Questions: The Dark Energy30mSelf-Test Questions: The Cosmic Concordance30mFinal Exam30m

Reviews

4.6

195 reviews

5 stars
74.03%
4 stars
17.21%
3 stars
4.76%
2 stars
1.58%
1 star
2.38%

TOP REVIEWS FROM THE EVOLVING UNIVERSE

by MVMar 29, 2019

To try to compress the universe in only a few lessons is incredibly hard so we can only say this is an introductory course. I hope other courses are developed to explore this subject more deeply.

by VKJan 20, 2016

The course is easy to understand and has simple tests that test your knowledge once in a while. It helped me gain lots of information. Hope this helps you! :)

by ANMay 23, 2020

This course finally mitigated my immense interest about Universe. I really liked the content and evaluative process of this course. Thanks to Caltech for this amazing astronomy course.

by VVOct 13, 2015

You know what, it's not that complex.... it was never that complex...... humans are missing something very basic, elemental, kinda stupid thing I guess. Humans need another stupid.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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The Evolving Universe

The Evolving Universe

About this Course