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  #1  
Old 22-08-2012, 07:26 PM
mprenzler (Michael)
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Free online astronomy course

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
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  #2  
Old 22-08-2012, 09:00 PM
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silv (Annette)
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yes!
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
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  #3  
Old 24-08-2012, 08:34 PM
Paranoia (Mitch)
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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
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Old 24-08-2012, 08:37 PM
mprenzler (Michael)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paranoia View Post
Been a few years since year 12 physics, its a good thing I've got a couple months to brush up.
I'm in the same boat :-)
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Old 26-08-2012, 05:19 PM
bazaud (Barry)
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I'll give it a go. Thanks for the heads up.

Barry
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Old 26-08-2012, 07:01 PM
LAW (Murphy)
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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.
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  #7  
Old 27-08-2012, 06:34 AM
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pmrid (Peter)
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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
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Old 27-08-2012, 08:02 AM
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ZeroID (Brent)
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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 !! ) 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.
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Old 27-08-2012, 08:17 AM
LAW (Murphy)
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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.
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  #10  
Old 27-08-2012, 07:33 PM
Heian (Mark)
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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
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  #11  
Old 27-08-2012, 08:33 PM
skytry (Peter)
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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.
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Old 27-08-2012, 10:28 PM
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Zhou (Mick)
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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.
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  #13  
Old 27-08-2012, 10:37 PM
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Zhou (Mick)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skytry View Post
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.
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.

Last edited by Zhou; 29-08-2012 at 11:59 AM.
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  #14  
Old 28-08-2012, 10:33 AM
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ZeroID (Brent)
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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.
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Old 28-08-2012, 05:01 PM
Paranoia (Mitch)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skytry View Post
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.
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
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  #16  
Old 28-08-2012, 05:49 PM
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Another resource from Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/education/e...ics-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.
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  #17  
Old 28-08-2012, 07:20 PM
mprenzler (Michael)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhou View Post
In year 11 my first physics teacher was terrible.
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 ).
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  #18  
Old 28-08-2012, 07:22 PM
mprenzler (Michael)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZeroID View Post
Interesting link, thanks Brent.
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  #19  
Old 29-08-2012, 10:13 AM
skytry (Peter)
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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.
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  #20  
Old 30-08-2012, 09:02 AM
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ZeroID (Brent)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skytry View Post
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.
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.
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