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Knowing the Universe: History and Philosophy of Astronomy
  • Level Foundation
  • المدة 32 ساعات hours
  • الطبع بواسطة University of Arizona
  • Offered by

عن

This is an introductory level course about the history and philosophy of astronomy, the oldest science. We'll look at how humans learned to ask questions about the universe, and even before the invention of modern instruments like the telescope, learned some amazing things about their place in nature. We will start with prehistoric cultures who kept accurate calendars and move through the time of the Greek philosophers who laid down the rudiments of logic and mathematics and the modern scientific method. We'll then examine the revolutions of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton that redefined our place in the universe. We will then learn about the revolutions in physics in the early 20th century that redefined our ideas of space and time, mass and energy. Finally, we will discuss how modern cosmology has shown us that we live in an ancient universe (14 billion years old), in one galaxy in a universe of hundreds of billions of galaxies. At the end, will ask questions that don't necessarily have answers. What came before the Big Bang? Is there anything outside our universe? What is reality? We'll finish by looking at the role of life in the universe and ask whether the earth is the only place with biology on it.

الوحدات

Welcome to the Course

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Survey Verification Quiz
  • Reflective Quiz: Before you Begin the Course

2 Videos

  • Welcome to Knowing the Universe
  • Course Overview

3 Readings

  • Syllabus and Course Overview
  • Course Participation and Motivation Survey
  • Reflective Quiz Instructions

Ancient Skies

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Ancient Astronomy, Modern Era
  • Calendars
  • Daily Motion, Annual Motion, Moon and Eclipses

6 Videos

  • Ancient Astronomy
  • Modern Era
  • Calendars
  • Daily Motion
  • Annual Motion
  • Moon and Eclipses

Greek Science

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Birth of Science, Early Greeks, Late Greeks
  • Qualities of Science, Reasoning and Uncertainty, Evidence
  • Reflective Quiz: Checking In With Your Goals

1 Peer Review

  • Week 1 Writing Assignment - Ancient Skies and Greek Astronomy

6 Videos

  • Birth of Science
  • Early Greeks
  • Late Greeks
  • Qualities of Science
  • Reasoning and Uncertainty
  • Evidence

Revolutions

    • 7 Videos
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Chinese Astronomy, Mayan Astronomy, Medieval and Islam
  • European Rebirth, Copernicus
  • Tycho Brahe, Kepler

7 Videos

  • Chinese Astronomy
  • Mayan Astronomy
  • Medieval and Islam
  • European Rebirth
  • Copernicus
  • Tycho Brahe
  • Kepler

Telescope

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Galileo, Early Telescope, Copernican Model
  • Galileo and the Church
  • Telescope Basics, Limitations & Solutions, Large Telescopes

1 Peer Review

  • Revolutions and Telescopes

7 Videos

  • Galileo
  • Early Telescope
  • Copernican Model
  • Galileo and the Church
  • Telescope Basics
  • Limitations/Solutions
  • Large Telescopes

Gravity

    • 7 Videos
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Copernican Revolution, Descartes
  • Newton, Gravity, Physics
  • Flowering of Science, Modern Science

7 Videos

  • Copernican Revolution
  • Descartes
  • Newton
  • Gravity
  • Physics
  • Flowering of Science
  • Modern Science

Evolution

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 4 Assignment
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4 Assignment

  • Cyclic Time, Linear Time
  • Entropy, Geological Time
  • Biological Evolution, Age of the Earth, Timeline
  • Reflective Quiz: Checking In Halfway

1 Peer Review

  • Gravity and Evolution

7 Videos

  • Cyclic Time
  • Linear Time
  • Entropy
  • Geological Time
  • Biological Evolution
  • Age of the Earth
  • Timeline

Mapping

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Enlightenment
  • Telescopes, Timekeeping
  • Solar System, Milky Way, Scientific Method

6 Videos

  • Enlightenment
  • Telescopes
  • Timekeeping
  • Solar System
  • Milky Way
  • Scientific Method

Relativity

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Albert Einstein, Space and Time
  • Curved Space, General Relativity
  • Black Holes, Gravitational Waves

1 Peer Review

  • Relativity and Mapping

6 Videos

  • Albert Einstein
  • Space and Time
  • Curved Space
  • General Relativity
  • Black Holes
  • Gravitational Waves

Quantum Theory

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • History, Atoms
  • Substructure, Quantum Mechanics
  • Utility, Implications

6 Videos

  • History
  • Atoms
  • Substructure
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Utility
  • Implications

Stars and Atoms

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • The Sun, Formation, Properties
  • Stellar Evolution, Late Stages, End Points

1 Peer Review

  • Quantum Theory, Stars, and Atoms

6 Videos

  • The Sun
  • Formation
  • Properties
  • Stellar Evolution
  • Late Stages
  • End Points

Galaxies

    • 7 Videos
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Milky Way, Galactic Center
  • Galaxies, Active Galaxies, Large Scale Structure
  • Expansion, Acceleration

7 Videos

  • Milky Way
  • Galatic Center
  • Galaxies
  • Active Galaxies
  • Large Scale Structure
  • Expansion
  • Acceleration

Big Bang

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Space, Old Light
  • The Contents, Big Bang
  • History, Multiverse

1 Peer Review

  • Galaxies and The Big Bang

6 Videos

  • Space
  • Old Light
  • The Contents
  • Big Bang
  • History
  • Multiverse

Life Beyond

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 4 Assignment
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4 Assignment

  • Astrobiology, Solar System
  • Exoplanets, Earthlike Worlds
  • Intelligence, Communication, Simulation
  • Reflection Quiz: What have you learned?

1 Peer Review

  • Life Beyond

7 Videos

  • Astrobiology
  • Solar System
  • Exoplanets
  • Earthlike Worlds
  • Intelligence
  • Communication
  • Simulation

Auto Summary

"Knowing the Universe: History and Philosophy of Astronomy" is an engaging course on Coursera, led by expert instructors. Delve into the history and philosophy of astronomy, exploring how humans have understood the universe from prehistoric times to modern cosmology. Covering key revolutions by Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, and advancements in 20th-century physics, this foundational course spans 1920 minutes. Ideal for personal development, it offers starter, professional, and paid subscription options for a wide range of learners.

Chris Impey
Instructor

Chris Impey