This course is your chance to begin to understand a little more about the marvels of astronomy. You will use your computer, your own senses and the night sky to learn some of the basics about stars, the solar system and how to make observations.

You will start to find your way around the sky and identify some important stars. You will begin to picture the place of our own planet, the Earth, in the wider universe. You will visit other planets - in a virtual sense - and travel in time to learn how scientists discovered these other worlds.

You will be encouraged to discover for yourself how to identify the stars and the planets, and your tutor will guide you through a number of practical projects that you can try. Best of all, you can share your discoveries with your fellow students, no matter where in the world they may be.

Outline

Week 1: the Stars

What is a star?

Week 2: Where to find stars

Identifying the stars in sky

Week 3: The Sun, Earth Moon System

Understand the importance of their relationship.

Week 4: The Earth and the Planets

Planets under observation.

Weeks 5, 6, 7: Putting it into Practice

Use you new skills.

Who should take this course?

You could just be curious about the night sky, or perhaps you are intrigued by all the media coverage on astronomical events and want to find out more. You could be a sailing enthusiast looking to understand the basics of navigation.

There are no entry requirements apart from some basic arithmetic.

Follow on

With the basic skills and knowledge you will get from this course, you will be able to begin your own observing programme. You will be able to make more sense of media coverage, documentaries and books on astronomy and space and be able to find answers to your own questions.

You will need

All materials are provided online through the course - there is nothing additional you have to purchase. However, there are books and other resources recommended by the tutor to supplement the course.

Basic projects can be attempted with no special equipment save pencil and paper. However, the course will be more rewarding to owners of some kind of optical aid, the basic being a pair of binoculars. A good telescope is desirable but not essential.

Cameras are good for sharing observations, however a snap-shot model will not be useful. The minimum spec is that some sort of long-exposure mechanism should be available (usually a “B” setting). Digitals with this facility are great due to the ability to post the results in the course. Film cameras get good results too, but better feedback from the tutor will be enabled by some method of getting the prints into a computer.

 

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

How long is this course?

About 7 hours, and we suggest you set aside about 4 hours week - but it's up to you!. You will have tutor support for ***months*** months. You wil have access to your course for a year.

Your tutor

Your tutor for this course is Mark Toner . You can find out more about him on the Tutors page.

Further information

Read a leaflet for this course

View some screenshots

Do you have any further questions? Visit our Contact Us page and ask away.

 

 

Do you have any further questions? Visit our Contact Us page and ask away.