Free online astronomy course

[mprenzler]

Hi All,

For any fellow beginners to astronomy this course may be of interest: https://www.coursera.org/course/introastro

It's offered by a real university (Duke) running over 9 weeks from the end of November.

I'm off to sign up!

Cheers,

Michael

[silv]

yes! :thumbsup:
and as ZeroID pointed out in another thread, the wikibook
used as reference for the course might benefit from a helping, knowledgeable hand?
cloudy night project :)

[Paranoia]

Hey Michael,

Thanks for posting this! Looks like it covers some good stuff. :)

I've signed up as well & really looking forward to it. Been a few years since year 12 physics, its a good thing I've got a couple months to brush up.

Cheers,
Mitch

[mprenzler]

I'm in the same boat :-)

[bazaud]

I'll give it a go. Thanks for the heads up.

Barry

[LAW]

I've signed up too. Thanks for posting!
I've been looking for something just like recently, now I've got to dig up all my old physics and maths textbooks. :D

[pmrid]

Once again, I have come to regret not having gone down a stream in High School in which maths at this level was taught. Whether it is a course like this, or one of the Swinbourne specials, it's a basic requisite you can't escape.
I wonder where one can go to learn that level of maths, algebra particulalry. Being out in the bush means it has to be onine or not at all.
Peter

[ZeroID]

The Prereading covers a fair part of the maths requirement, it's not that hard. Just a matter of dealing with large numbers. I'm as rusty as blazes (about 50 years rusty !! :shrug: ) and just got out the calculator, read and reread then played with the existing examples to get the idea. More around getting your mind to adjust to the scale of numbers involved.

Anyway looks like we've got an 'off-campus' study support group going here so there should be plenty of assistance available. I suggest when the time comes we set up a 'Help' thread on here so we can learn and discuss as we go. Should be quite entertaining. :thumbsup:

[LAW]

That sounds great, my partner uses Facebook groups for uni, they post pics, links and use the instant messaging thing to help each other out. Maybe we could set up something like that (I don't know how but I'm sure someone will ;))

I'm actually really excited about going back to school! Haven't got much work done this morning, that wikibook is more interesting than what I'm supposed to be doing. Haha.

[Heian]

Well,
I've joined up as well. Looking forward to to getting started, but I'm not looking forward to finding out how much I've forgotten!!:)

cheers

[skytry]

hi All,
I am interested, yet the phisics scares me somewhat,
didn't learn that when I was in secondry school,
forgotten more than I have learnt, many many moons ago,
for me too enrol, which I would like too, I would need all the help I
could get, from ya all,
also, just starting looking and enjoying, help would be necessary,
I shall be guided, I like the thought of learning,

regards,
Peter.

[Zhou]

These free courses being offered by prestigious American universities are an awsome idea both in marketing (for the universities) and encouraging people around the world to learn.

I am currently enrolled in an edX (MIT) course for chemistry on top of my usual Open University courses.

[Zhou]

Physics used to scare me too. In year 11 my first physics teacher was terrible. All he used to do was put problems on the board and berate us if we didn't get the correct answer. I came second last in the class and he recomended in my school report (which I still have) that I discontinue study in that subject. However, 26 years later, I enjoy physics and am doing well in the subject.

If you have enough passion and drive to learn something you can do it despite the fearsome reputation some of the science and math subjects have.

[ZeroID]

Good one Mick ! Yeah, be nice to get the certificate at the end ( if ya pass ) but even if you don't it has to be a good learning exercise for anyone interested in the subject. And free so have another go if it doesn't all come together the first time.
I'm already on FB so we could create a special group maybe ( if I can figure out how that works !! ) but we could just maintain a thread on here. Don't think Mike would mind.
As a starter if you've read the wikibooks link have ago at the astronotes in the second link. It's a better resource with a bit more detail and more math examples to practise on and different explanations of the numbers behind it all.

[Paranoia]

Hey Peter,

For a quick brush up on Physics download iTunes (if you dont already have it). On the iTunes store have a search through iTunes University for a course called 'Physics I: Classical Mechanics'. Its run by Walter Lewin who lectured at MIT for over 40 years. His lectures are the best explanations & demonstrations of classical mechanics I've ever found.

For anyone else who doesnt know about iTunes University its fantastic! A lot of Universities record audio/video lectures and put them up for free download!

Another favorite course of mine is 'Introduction to Cosmology' by James Bullock at UC Irvine. It covers a lot of the same topics this course will.

Cheers,
Mitch

[ZeroID]

Another resource from Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/teachers/guides/Pages/Mathematics-guide.aspx

"From basic math to precalculus, Microsoft Mathematics 4.0 can help you visualize and see mathematical concepts as you’ve never seen them before. This free downloadable tool includes step-by-step instructions and explains fundamental concepts. The wide range of tools to help students with complex mathematics includes a full-featured graphing calculator that’s designed to work just like a hand-held calculator and ink handwriting support to recognize hand-written problems."

Their blurb, not mine but might be useful.

[mprenzler]

It's sad that so many people (including me) had this type of experience ( although I went on to do engineering so can't have been too scarred ;)). Physics can be a really interesting subject, especially for those wanting to understand a bit more how the universe works.

Anyway for those a bit daunted by the maths I'm happy to help (although I may to scrape a bit of rust off first too :lol:).

[mprenzler]

Interesting link, thanks Brent.

[skytry]

hi All,
thank you for your link supports, and support,
I have a lot of learning to do between now & November 27,
it would be nice to have a special group, (for the rusty ones),
to pass around suggestions,
I shall enrol, with the intent of having a certificate at the end of the
term, (with a little help),
it is a most interesting hobby, full of surprises every night,
and even the moon has its interesting side,
here goes with the learning curve,
regards,
Peter.

[ZeroID]

Haven't we all ??

Think we'll just keep this thread going for now. FB is an option but some people don't have\like it so hang around here for now.
Anyone who is doing the pre-reading or studying post up any questions you might have and we'll see what the accumulated resource is. :question: :thumbsup:

[malclocke]

I've signed up too for better or worse.

+1 to keeping a 'study group' going on here.

I'm going to need to brush up on algebra and basic maths, and was recommended this by a mathematician friend:

http://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra

and if, like me, you want to get the basics covered:

http://www.khanacademy.org/math/arithmetic

Malc

[DarthWombat]

I've signed up.

It looks like we might have the makings of a virtual study group here...

[skytry]

hi Malc,
the links you have supplied I am in the process
of downloading both,
looking, maybe learning for the course to follow, and,
basic is the word,
thank you,
regards,
Peter.

[orestis]

Hey guys,

I am very interested in doing this course as I am about to enter my second year of doing physics at high school but reading through the terms and conditions I have to be over 18, I am 16.

Is there any way I can get around this.

thanks for advertising this here
cheers Orestis

[mprenzler]

Maybe get Mum or Dad to register and use their login? As far as I can tell the teaching materials are prerecorded so anyone can really do the course. Good luck, Michael

[Zhou]

unfortunately I don't have time to do the course, my current study and work load make that impractical. However, if anyone needs a hand with the maths or physics I will be only to happy to help where I can.

[skytry]

hi Mick,
I am currently studying for the course,
with information gathered from Malc, of which shall be of
benefit for doing the hard stuff,
I'm sure during the course I shall be in contact for help,
and thank you for your kind offer too give assistance,
I for one may require it,
regards,
Peter

[bazaud]

Great to see so many people interested. BrIng it on. :D

Barry

[madbadgalaxyman]

It looks like there are a lot of you out there in cyberspace who seriously want to come to grips with the details of astronomical science.

I can certainly help with the astronomical side, as I am familiar with the concepts and conventions (and also the highly specialized jargon and acronyms) of astronomy; especially in areas like the Interstellar Medium, extinction calculations, Star Formation, Stellar Evolution, magnitude systems and equations, distance measurement, the structure and properties of galaxies, etc.
I also tend to be good at finding and interpreting data in astronomical catalogs.

I tend to be "quite well connected" and know where to find information. Also, I have a large personal library of astronomy books that range from lower-undergraduate through to graduate level.

cheers, madbadgalaxyman

It is remarkable how many people missed out on doing maths properly at school. This problem is only going to get much much worse, as there are now "idiot" maths options in the education system that allow smart people to do low level maths.
However, knowledge of algebraic manipulation, cartesian geometry, trig , logarithmic and exponential functions, and other functions......can get you a long way in astronomy, even if you have only modest (or even no) calculus.
A lot of the simpler books use a "graphical display of numerical relations approach", which is more accessible than pages full of complex equations.

[GPC]

I'm in as well, looks like it's going to be a great course! and the workload seems to be very managable. I'm really looking forward to it!
Did anyone make a Facebook page for all of us doing the course? If not i think that would be a great way for us all to chat and compare notes etc. where we can

[GPC]

Ok, So i just went and set one up - if you search on facebook for a page - Students of Free Online Astronomy Course November 2012 - all welcome to like and see where we go from there.

Hope to see you all on there!!!

[ZeroID]

Must be 'Legal Age of Consent' thing I guess. It actually doesn't ask for your age anywhere that I noticed and there is no cost so I don't see what the hangup is. You probably are more up to date with maths than the rest of us combined :P.
I'd sign up and if it asks age anywhere just add a couple on. I don't think that will bring the FBI down on you big time ...:thumbsup: :rofl:

[ZeroID]

Cheers Glen, I'll check it out when I get home. Wouldn't be a bad idea to do a head count and see how many of us are having a go.

Wont be long before we'll be setting up the 'Australasia Aeronautics and Sapce Administration' the southern hemisphere branch of NASA.

Also known as ASS eh ? :rofl:

[Suzy]

Good luck guys- I'm excited for all of you. :2thumbs:

I would love to join in this course, however I struggle with Math (I can't even do algebra!)
I thinks it's a fantastic idea to have a study/support group going here and some of us that aren't doing the course might actually learn something from your discussions. :thumbsup:

All the best everyone! :einstein:

[skytry]

hi All,
ok, not having a facebook site,
and not being registered with facebook,
too eliminate the posibilities of being in the wrong
area,
could I please have a link too where too register on facebook,
and the area of facebook we intend to occupy is, free online astronomy is good,
will be done as soon as and early,
regards,
Peter.

[mprenzler]

Thanks. Have "liked".

Michael

[GPC]

If i have done it right here is the link - http://www.facebook.com/StudentsOfFreeOnlineAstronomyCourse November2012?ref=hl

[Suzy]

Carl (re-normalised) told me that if anyone needs any help (on fb) doing this course to let him know. He's been a great teacher to me and has taught me lots. :thumbsup: What a great guy! Carl, btw is a professional astronomer. :D

The fb page looks great- good job!
I've "liked" it.

[ZeroID]

Hi Peter, FB is pretty easy. Just goto www.facebook.com (http://www.facebook.com) and register yourself. The rest just happens. I'm still figuring out how it works as well, it's a messy place because the more friends you get the messier it gets :lol:

[ZeroID]

Liked ... :thumbsup:

[skytry]

hi Brent,
thank's for the link, all good I hope,
opened face book account for the astronomy course,
also, too the right area, now sit back and study,
regards,
Peter.

[skytry]

hi Glenn,
I like the site, all good,
regards,
Peter.

[scagman]

Well I've taken the plunge and signed up too. I was never any good at study, so I'll see how far I can go. So far the reading hasn't been to bad, just need to brush up on my algebra.

Cheers

[malclocke]

Just out of interest, can anyone here solve the example equation on the sign up page? I can't!

I'm not looking for an answer or steps, jut wonder how many can do it.

[mprenzler]

Do you mean the equation in Point 3 (solving for 'G')? If so, yes. From memory we did that level of algebra in high school.

[scagman]

Hi Marc,

It took a bit of trial any error but I think I worked it out right.

The example they use to demostrate Kepler's 3rd law took me some time to work out esp. the second part, triing to solve for "a".

[skytry]

hi All,
ok, where do you find the question?,
haven't found it yet,
regards,
Peter.

[skytry]

hi All,
by looking at Kepplers 3rd law,
no idea of the answer,
then again, I still may learn something,
by carring on, yet again,
regards,
Peter

[malclocke]

Yes, although I think they are requiring you to solve for D, unless my understanding of algebra terminology is completely wrong, which is a very real possibility. The solution is given, I just can't work to it from the original equation.

It likely is high school algebra, but high school is somewhere I haven't been for a very long time.

Incidentally, I think the equation is a representation of the Roche Limit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roche_limit

Malc

[mprenzler]

Hi Malc,

Sorry if my comment came across wrong, it was meant as an encouragement (i.e. they don't appear to require a uni degree as a prequisite for this course). It's been a long time since I was at school too :)

I'm happy to provide a worked example if it helps.

Cheers,

Michael

Edit: yes, should have been 'D'. My typo.

[mithrandir]

Here are the steps, but I did it by inspection. It's about 40 years since I did my degree (Pure/Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics).

[LAW]

http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww351/NSWRATS/IMG_2698.jpg

I got there a different way. (Sorry for the mess, I was doing it on post-its while watching TV)

[malclocke]

Ahh ... I wasn't aware that cuberoot(x) was the same as x^1/3, I was a lot closer to solving it than I thought. There may yet be hope for me!

mprenzler, absolutely no offense taken, I didn't read it in the negative at all.

mithrandir, thanks for the workings, super helpful. Although obvious in retrospect, the reciprocate step didn't occur to me and so my workings were a little more long winded.

[mprenzler]

That's right Malc, this holds for all roots; taking the root of something is the same as raising it to the inverse power, eg. Squareroot(x) = x^1/2 :thumbsup:

[bazaud]

You can't cancel out the G like that.... can you?? ok divide both sides by G
Sorry answering my own questions.

[Zhou]

This is how I did it.

[ZeroID]

Hahahaha, it's started. :lol: Good Stuff guys !!! :thumbsup:

[skytry]

hi All,
Mick & Barry,
I see the result of the equasion
that you both have solved,
what is D standing for in the equasion?,

as it has been along time since I was at high school, not too much of this was going on when I was there, so I have a lot of learning and understanding too do,
there again, may be alot of tuition too,
regards,
Peter.

[mprenzler]

Hi Peter,

If you refer to the Wikipedia page Malc referenced (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roche_limit) you can see the following explanation:


and further down the page:


If I understand this correctly, if the surface of the moon were inside the Roche Limit (i.e. if the diameter of its orbit was less than the value of d calculated for the earth and the moon), then anything on the surface of the moon would be pulled towards earth.

HTH,

Michael

[skytry]

hi Michael,
thank you,
I understand the mechanics of what is going on,
the equasions are the tricky ones, and I shall be trying to
work it out, still studying,
regards,
Peter.

[mprenzler]

I, on the other hand, understood the equations but not the mechanics (at least until I read the Wikipedia page) ;). There's always something more to learn, isn't there?

[scagman]

Hi everyone,

I'm slowly working my way thru Nick Strobels online notes as recommended and have gotten stuck on the problem of howto work out on solar day on Mars.

I understand and can follow the calculations used in relation to earth.(Well i think I do). I used Excel to create the various little formulas to check and get correct answers. but when I try substituting in the Martion figures I come out with 24h45m instead of 24h39m.

i have included my workings so maybe someone out there can point out my errors and/or explain why my thinking is wrong.

Nick Strobel states " The extra angle any planet must rotate on its axis to get the Sun back to the meridian equals the angle amount the planet moved in its orbit in one sidereal day."

So therefore if Mars has a Solar Year of 686.98 Earth Solar Days it would move 360deg/686.98 = 1.908278 deg so should have to spin 1.91 deg more to complete a Martian solar day.
If mars spins at a rate of 14.62048 deg/hr or 1deg/4.103833min
so that would mean mars would have to spin for an extra 7m 50s
therefore solar day = 24h37m + 7m50s = 24h 45m.

I have attached a copy of my workings in excel which may/maynot help.
in earth1 I use 1deg as the value for the extra angle earth travels for a solar day and Earth 2 uses

I hope I have explained myself and you can follow my above assumptions and my calcs as per attached.

I have spent lots of hrs working on this so before I go total stir crazy i thought I would ask.

Thanks for any assistance.
Regards

[mithrandir]

It looks like that's your problem John. 360/686.98 is 0.524032722 so you need to add 2.150542777 minutes or 2' 9"

[scagman]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for pointing that out, much appreciated, but its a typo and it should read 686.98/360 which does give me 1.91

Unfortunatly your answer of 0.5240 does give the correct answer but just confusses me even more as to why it would be 360/686.98 instead of 686.98/360.

686.98/360 should be the deg amount mars would move in its rotation around the sun which should be the extra amount mars would need to spin to complete a solar day, according to the statement "The extra angle any planet must rotate on its axis to get the Sun back to the meridian equals the angle amount the planet moved in its orbit in one sidereal day."

I will need to sit and contemplate that for a bit more I think.

Cheers

[scagman]

I see the error of my ways now, and I hope every one else reading my last post can stop laughing at my dumbness.

Unfortunatly that was a typo that Andrew pointed out and it was supposed to read 696.98/360 which I for some reason, which has escaped my for the moment, was thinking that was how to work out the angle.:confused2::screwy:

Andrews post only confussed me even more by giving my the correct answer using, what at the time seemed to me to be the wrong formula.

Finally last night I saw the flaw in my logic and alls good.

Cheers

[BENHINSPETER]

If only i had the time...

[bazaud]

How's the studying going guys?

Barry

[malclocke]

I'm pretty happy so far. Been trying to get the algebra back on track, I seem to be getting there.

Going through http://www.astronomynotes.com/ slowly. A couple of nights ago I decided to try and work out the parameters of a simplified Hohmann orbit from Earth to Mars. I got close enough in my predictions to the flight times of the MSL to conclude that I got my calculations right!

I guess the proof will be in the pudding, but I'm hoping that by the time the course starts I might be almost ready.

[Chif]

Just signed up :). Was umming and uhhing about doing this as I already have a lot of study for work. But I know I'll regret it if I don't take the opportunity.

[Zhou]

I have just signed up for this course (Intro to astronomy); I am looking forwards to learning some great science. Of course we should keep this thread up and help each other.

I have also signed up for a course at edX (Introduction to solid state chemistry) which starts next week and have have enrolled at another Coursera couse that looks interesting, The science of gastromony :thumbsup:

[Jethro777]

Signed up! Can't wait. :)

[anthonyc1]

I am interested in joining this course but I'm unsure exactly how Coursera works. Is it flexible in the way that if I was to join but then a couple of weeks later I was unable to continue, I am able to just stop submitting work?

I don't want to join and then later on start stressing about completing the work in time :lol:

[vaztr]

Anthony,

I would imagine that the course has to be completed in the 9 weeks alotted, but I've never done a coursera course before.

Do they have a 'contact us' page where you can pose this question?

You could always start this course, not complete it but get all the course material - study at your leisure and then apply again for a subsequent set of dates to finish it - you won't lose any money :)

VAZ

[anthonyc1]

Did everyone else receive the following introductory email?



For those who are a bit worried about the math, there are links attached at the end of the email to pdf documents that review some of the basic math concepts used in Astronomy.

Really looking forward to this course :)

[vaztr]

Sure did :)

VAZ

[bazaud]

Yes, received it.

Bring it on.... I think.

Barry

[malclocke]

Also noticed they have updated the course page with an outline of the schedule since I last looked. http://www.coursera.org/course/introastro

[loki78]

I was going to sign up myself but it has been so long since I did algebra, that the example on the course page looks like gibberish to me :/

[ZeroID]

Panic stations time ... !!
1 week to go ....how do you spell algebra ? :P

[mswhin63]

A great place to learn is:

A little explanation - http://www.khanacademy.org/

but my favourite is - http://patrickjmt.com/

[anthonyc1]

Yep they are good ones. Khan Academy is where I learnt all my Algebra (and many other things also)

[bazaud]

The fun has begun.

Barry

[TechnoViking]

I watched all the lectures last night and have realised that after almost 20 years of leaving school, "Cramming" doesnt work anymore :(.


Im glad we get 20 attempts, i didnt know how horrible my algebra was untill i started this, i was living in the hopes that algebra was still active in my brain.. lol

[malclocke]

I watched the lectures last night, and completed the homework tonight. The lectures were interesting, but didn't really cover much new for me.

I was surprised how hard the homework was though, took some working out!

Looking forward to the rest of the course, and I quite like the tutors style, particularly his 'fuzzy head lunar eclipse' :)

[bazaud]

Just starting the homework now, your right first question wasn't covered in the videos. I did enjoy the videos, like the way he presents.

[Shamrocker]

Spent a few hours trying to figure out what was wrong with my answer to question 2, and eventually realised it was because I had included a comma.

:mad2:

I quite enjoyed week 1. Definitely filled in a few blanks for me.

[DarthWombat]

G'day all...

I watched the lectures yesterday and knocked over the homework today a few hours before the deadline. My partner said: "Good to know your study habits haven't changed".

I found the first week's questions tricky rather than out-and-out hard (mathematically speaking) - I was just glad they weren't timed. I printed them out and worked them through on paper before going back and filling in the answers. I made lots of scribbly diagrams which really helped.

The second-last question in part B took me a while to think through - it tied together a bunch of stuff from across a few lectures. Being able to replay the lectures was a huge bonus - I wish I could have done that when I was at Uni.

Anyway, I'm happy with how it's shaping up so far.

Hooroo,

Alex

[bazaud]

I'm hoping I read it right, don't we have about 2 day before deadline?

Barry

[Peteren]

I’m stumped on question 4 in part B, anyone got a calculation for it ?

Got it, put in the wrong values :ashamed:

[DarthWombat]

Yep - I just saw Monday and knew that I wouldn't be doing anything once I got back to work.

The deadline is actually 12:00pm Monday EST (-5:00), so I make that something like 4:00am AEST (+11:00). Is that right?

[bazaud]

I get 8pm Tuesday. LOL


I'm not working tomorrow so I'll get stuck into it in the morning.

Barry

[ZeroID]

Finally got stuck into the course, it's been a bummer of a week, funerals and Xmas socials all mixed up. Hopefully I can finish the rest of the vids (4) today\this evening and do the homework. Gawd, I haven't done homework for yonks !!

[LAW]

I should have taken better notes :(

I have to admit I'm struggling a bit, trying to remember my highschool maths while applying it to these new concepts of RA and DEC. I know what RA and DEC are, but I've never thought of using them to predict times and lattitudes before.

I'm really enjoying it though, I haven't studied for years and this sort of workout is exactly what my idle brain needed.

Good luck everyone!

[EDIT] Turns out I wasn't strugglign anywhere near as much as I thought, my troubles were calculator related (more specifically finger related).

I've got all green ticks for the homework but it's not showing my score...?

[scagman]

I have to learn how to study. I never did much studing at school. After triing to work out q1 &q2 and getting wrong answers no matter how I tried to work it out, I was about to throw in the towel and just go back to watching TV(much easier), I sat down last night and worked thru them again, this time READING/UNDERSTANDING the questions a bit better, I actually got them right.:party::party::party::party:.

Bring on week 2.:scared::prey:

[ZeroID]

Completed my last two modules last night (phew!) then got stuck into the homework. My maths is NOT what it used to be but got through most of it. Was too tired to go back and fix too much ( finished after 11pm) so I'll have to wear the consequences on that one but I'll also take more notes for the rest.
Good point, the ability to go back and watch the vid again. I'm downloading them as I go for future reference\refresh. Hopefully as more learning is done my understanding will improve.

[mithrandir]

For those Ozzies and Kiwis confused by the assignment due time, for week 2 "Dec 10 2012 12:00 EST" is:

2012/12/11 01:00 AWST Australia/Perth Australia/West
2012/12/11 01:45 ACWST Australia/Eucla
2012/12/11 02:30 ACST Australia/Darwin Australia/North
2012/12/11 03:00 AEST Australia/Brisbane Australia/Lindeman Australia/Queensland
2012/12/11 03:30 ACSDT Australia/Adelaide Australia/Broken_Hill Australia/South Australia/Yancowinna
2012/12/11 04:00 AESDT Australia/ACT Australia/Canberra Australia/Currie Australia/Hobart Australia/Melbourne Australia/NSW Australia/Sydney Australia/Tasmania Australia/Victoria
2012/12/11 04:00 LHSDT Australia/LHI Australia/Lord_Howe
2012/12/11 06:00 NZDT Antarctica/McMurdo Antarctica/South_Pole NZ Pacific/Auckland
2012/12/11 06:45 CHADT NZ-CHAT Pacific/Chatham

Don't you just love the number of and different names time zones go by.

[bazaud]

Thanks Andrew

[mithrandir]

My bad. I thought they'd change the time. It looks like they've changed the display so it now appears in your local time.

"Dec 10 2012 12:00 EST" is US time is "Dec 11 2012 04:00 AESDT"

Confusion caused by the EST zone code being misused for Australia.

Can someone not using AEST set the time offset in their profile and see what time it says assignments are due?

[ZeroID]

Also you no longer get an instant feedback whether you are right or wrong. That's the end of the 'guessing game'.
I'm struggling with the maths bigtime. After 50+ years without algebra it's going to be my downfall I suspect. That and finding time. Whatever happens I'm going to carry on with the course, my results may be abysmal but there is still a lot to be learned and who needs a certificate anyway, especially at my age !!

[mswhin63]

I totally understand time-wise, with 2 teenage kids to deal with it was a difficult challenge. Although Maths is all about study time and not so much about the practicality of algebra use. After starting calculus last 2 semesters algebra is almost second hat. I have never had to use Algebra much over the years as well until now

[OICURMT]

I need to remember to read the problems more closely...



I used the diameter in one of the calculation. Kept getting is wrong screaming "The diameter is correct! Damn it!"... :tasdevil:

then I saw the question... provide the radius! :doh:

[mithrandir]

If you'd read my previous post on assignment due times, read the updated version of post 98. I'm pretty sure I got it wrong. Blasted duplicate timezone name abbreviations.

[bazaud]

How are we all going... Well, I've slowed down a little hopefully catching up before Xmas.

Barry

[scagman]

:confused:.
I'm finding it very time consuming and hard. I have just moved onto week 2 part B after spending all week tryng to grasp Kintec E and writing expressions. Left Q11 & 12 will go back to them may later. Maybe.

Cheers

[silv]

I missed the beginning of the course and am just now starting. (downloading week 1 material.......)

was hoping to at least meet the deadline for week 3 on Monday...

omg, reading your posts makes my knees go weak! :o
I'll be having a really hard time catching up and actually learning the material.

please do not boast too much about your grand success.... *sighs*

can I leave out week 1 and 2 for the moment and start off with week 3 to get the homework done on time?
or will I need the knowledge of week 1&2 to be able to follow week 3?

[OICURMT]

I unenrolled last week, as I just moved back to Adelaide from Perth and had no time to do the work... (arrived last week)

Desktop (along with the hosuehold goods) is due to arrive on Jan 3rd... maybe I'll take it back up then.

[silv]

okay, see you in the trenches again, soon, then :)

I just finished week 1.
tomorrow week 2.
week 3 could still work out on time for Monday. yay. it's fun :)
glad, I don't have a think-job, anymore.

[scagman]

Hi Silv,

I woudn't have been able to do wk3 without the 1st 2 weeks. If you have some matths background you may be able to skip them.
Goodluck

[mithrandir]

There's not that much maths in the wk1/2 assignments. It's more figuring out which equations to use. If you can handle rearranging equations to get the wanted thing by itself on the LHS a calculator will do the arithmetic for you.

Having said that, I do have a ~40 year old degree in maths, and use Open Office to do the calculations since it's easier to check for typos so you don't have to reenter everything.

[LewisM]

Not being enthralled by it to be honest. It's OK, but I get more out of reading books myself.

Haven't unenrolled - yet.

[malclocke]

I feel like I'm possibly in the minority, but am really enjoying the course. I am finding it is taking a lot more time than I had reckoned for though.

I am finding the maths pretty hard, but at the same time it has given me several 'aha' moments, where I have gained new insights into topics I thought I understood. The whole set of topics around tidal forces being an example of this.

I initially stayed clear of the forums for help with the homework answers as I wanted to get to my answers independently, but have dipped in a couple of times when I have been really stuck and found them very helpful. I was worried the forum discussion would just hand me the answers on a plate, but instead they usually have more general discussion around how to approach the problems, and again I have gained insight into some of the concepts from the forum discussion that I wouldn't have otherwise got.

All in all, I'm loving it, and feel very privileged to have the opportunity to take the course for free.

Also very glad for the week off this week as I've just got out of hospital with appendicitis, which would have blown it for me if it came on another week I think.

[JB80]

I just recieved an e-mail mentioning that they are looking to get the Astrobiology course underway by the end of Janurary.

Has anyone else enrolled in that one too?

[bojan]

Like you, I am enjoying it very much.
The commitment to do homework on time (in my case, before the next session of lectures) is very good, it adds some sort of seriousness to the whole exercise. The course itself is really basic - but in my opinion it is potentially extremely useful and actually absolutely needed.. it is a pity there is no more of those.
IMHO, if we treat the education as a product on the market (and we tend to do it), with price tag on it (so only those with enough money could afford it), then we are potentially bound to enter new dark ages, not much different from times of witch hunt and inquisition.. recent popularity of EU "theories", creationism and such nonsense among plebs today is alarming, and if enough critical mass is accumulated, this could lead to a "targeted education" (my personal terminology, I don't know about official term) where students are learning the things that big money and various interest groups pay for, in effect suppressing the really free and critical thinking..

Forum discussions are very good and sometimes quite insightful, but I stayed away from them also, for the same reasons - I want to put myself to the test, to see how far away I am now from where I was during the high school/uni days, and I am happy with myself so far, considering the elapsed time since then..
Well, two more weeks to go - and then we will be real, "official" amateur astronomers, with "diploma" ;)

[malclocke]

Well, I finished ... phew!

How did everyone else get on?

[scagman]

Well done, I have been finding week 8 impossible. I have finished 8a but struggling a bit with 8b. Well a lot really, I'm going back over the videos and forums trying to understand it. I'm very surprised I've lasted this long.:D

[bojan]

Still working on 8b.. with help of Susskind.

[mithrandir]

I was going OK until i got to week 8. Too many issues with relative's health causing distractions at the moment. About half way thru 8a. Haven't looked at 8b.

Having to check for errata all the time is a nuisance.

[bojan]

Done!

Week 8 was the hardest.. partly because IMO it was sort of a rush job.. lectures should have been packed in two weeks instead of one.
But, all in all, it was a great experience and good personal test - now I know how much I don't know :lol: !!

[bazaud]

Congratulations! I dropped out at week 3 but going to watch the lectures at my leisure. I hope to have another go in the future when life slows down a little.

Good work those who reached the finish line.

Barry

[mithrandir]

Yes, week 8 was heavy and the errata made it worse.
I've given up on the week 8 assignments with 4/8 in part A and 6/11 in part B after getting 100% for the rest.
If they run it again maybe they'll fix the timing and proof all the course material first

[Shamrocker]

Unfortunately I didnt complete the week 8 assignments for various reasons but got my certificate nonetheless! I must say I got a real kick out of doing the course and getting the certificate.

Has anyone enrolled in further courses through Coursera?

[scagman]

Hi Aidan,

Week 8 was a bit over the top for me too. I too really enjoyed it and getting the certificate did make me feel good. I enrolled in one of the beginners algebra courses then noticed it had started 2 weeks earlier so I unerolled. Will look for it again in the future.

Cheers

[malclocke]

Week 2 and 8 were the hardest IMO. I was lucky with week 8 in that I didn't get to attempt any of the questions until all the grader glitches were sorted out.

Got 100% in the end so I'm pretty chuffed. It was the most rewarding thing I've done in a fair while, thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to take another course in the future but need a bit of a break now!

[UK1]

where do you go to start classes

[bojan]

Anyone knows how many people achieved 90% (to qualify for distinction) and 100%? (I could not find this info anywhere on website).

It seems that there were ~5000 enrolments, out of those 2100 earned certificate (70%).

Quite a crowd :thumbsup: !!

[mithrandir]

There is a forum post with the final numbers for all sorts of things, but it doesn't say how many certificates or do any break down by grade. Seach for "Final update on statistics".

[mithrandir]

You'll have to wait for them to re-offer it. Ronen says they will but didn't say when. Apart from that, no doubt lots of people have copies of everything if you wanted to go through it by yourself.

[hickny]

This course is on again starting on Dec 3.
The 1st homework looks quite challenging.
https://class.coursera.org/introastro-002/class

What do the people who attempted it last time think of the course?

[rustigsmed]

This is something i wouldn't mind doing but i'm not prepared. I haven't looked an equation since high school. :rolleyes: