Astronomy short course or subjects

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Does anyone know of any subject or short course in relation to astronomy? I am doing the Astronomy and Black Holes elective at RMIT as part of my degree and do really like this subject (its pretty much all theory) and would like to do more studies in relation to Astronomy theory.

I had a look at the Swinburne short course but have no idea if this is any good.

Thanks.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I am starting this is on November 27th, online, free.

https://www.coursera.org/#course/introastro

[silv (Annette)]

Zero, thanks for that link. Free, eh? Awesome!

I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Teaching Channel - Understanding the Universe - An Introductoin to Astronomy 2nd edition. (not free)
In part, because Alexander Filipenko's hair kept fascinating me

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Thanks for that!

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I've started doing the recommended pre-reading on wikibooks but I am finding it to be somewhat incomplete in many sections and some are basically irrelevant. Also the spelling and grammar for some descriptions are pretty bad as well.
So Far sections 1 to 4 are ok.
Section 5, Telescopes is shockingly incomplete as is 6 on Planetary Science.
7,8 & 9 are basically irelevant to astronomy although possibly interesting historically or generally ( Search for Extra Terrestial Life ?? )
!0, Solar and ok but again incomplete in sections.
11, Stars is similar.

Still reading from there.

I have been editting a few of the sections myself, mainly for spelling and grammatical corrections but I was going to suggest that any of the more erudite of members on here could quite feasibly add a lot more information of value for future users.
Here's the link if anyone is interested http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/General_Astronomy

Just an idea to spread the good word ...

[silv (Annette)]

noice! (intentionally misspelled )
why not make a quick extra thread in the general Chat forum?

And thanks Stefan!
Now I have a really valid fill-in of my beloved procrastination.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

OK, completed the Wikibooks reading, mainly because it got less and less subject matter the further I read.

So I got into the astronomynotes link. Much better and possibly the source for the wiki books by some one interpreting and abbreviating the information till he/she got bored. Start there instead, much more complete and understandable. I'm still struggling with the maths, might have to get a proper calculator to figure it all out.

Anyone else signed up ?

And there is a big high over the Tasman Puddle. Might be able to open the roof tonight ... I hope !!

[cybereye (Mario)]

Originally Posted by ZeroID

I am starting this is on November 27th, online, free.

https://www.coursera.org/#course/introastro

I've signed up for the Galaxies & Cosmology course starting in January next year...

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by cybereye

I've signed up for the Galaxies & Cosmology course starting in January next year...

I think I'll see how I go with this first but I spotted that. Bookmarked for future reference .. Good luck !!

We'll be running a thread on here or FB group for (moral) support for anyone who enrols. Welcome to add yor tuppence worth, I suspect there will be some questions.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Will be enrolling soon!

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Funny I should see this thread, I just found the coursera link and signed up to the astrobiology course for next January.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Are there any hidden costs at all?

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

There doesn't appear to be, all signing up is giving your name and e-mail and that's it.
For the Astro biology course they recommend a book as a suggested reading, thankfully we already have that book on the shelf.

[cybereye (Mario)]

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

Are there any hidden costs at all?

If you read up on Coursera on Wikipedia it says that they are a for-profit organisation and then details possible payment models for the future. From what I can gather the study is free but perhaps you'll have to pay if you want a certificate, or something along those lines. It's still early days and apparently still in the planning stage.

Here's a link to Wikipedia page

Cheers,
Mario

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Yeah I had read an article stating that some courses are pay for a certificate, it didn't specify which ones and it is not stated on the courses that I had looked at.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Ahh, do the free course, make your own certificate, who cares ? It doesn't even mention a pass mark requirement so it may just be a participation certificate. I just thought it looked interesting to do and woud add to my pool of 'useless' knowledge. Useful at pub quizzes maybe

[silv (Annette)]

pub quizzies yup
or for getting inspired and knowledgable enough to write down those story plots without feeling too embarrassed

[ZeroID (Brent)]

You got a story to tell Silv ?
I've always fancied writing a SciFi. Started on a few but never got too far but they keep banging around inside my skull. Gotta get one out one day.

[silv (Annette)]

yeah, like you, it seems.
I just want to see them happen, you know. they don't need to have a proper beginning or end. just some scenes and theories that "bang around inside my head". the theories, especially. weaving science and spirituality together into a future/alien society's fabric, sort of thing.