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$80

for 6 classes
Class

Astronomy 1.1: Intro to Astronomy Course

Completed by 4 learners
Ages 10-15
Live Group Class
In this six-week course, begin to learn about the fundamentals of modern astronomy and learn to ask questions that are 14 billion years in the making.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(67 reviews)

Live video meetings
1x per week, 6 weeks
3-10 learners per class
60 min

What's included

6 live meetings
6 in-class hours

Class Experience

Asking questions that are 14 billion years in the making. 

Jump into astronomy and answer the questions astronomers have been asking for centuries about what lies in the night sky! This course is structured to consist of lectures via slideshows, educational videos to supplement discussions, and have ample time provided to ask and answer questions. Each lesson has further learning opportunities in the form of additional videos, links to national observatory image archives, and articles from NASA and other related websites. This course is designed to be an overview of the discipline, providing a foundation to explore further topics in astronomy. No calculations are involved in this course, and time is set aside for questions and discussion of material.

Over the course of 6 weeks, we will cover topics including:
Week 1: The Study of Our Universe:
What astronomy is, what our universe is (and what’s in it), how astronomy connects to other disciplines;
Week 2: Origins of Modern Astronomy:
Early models of our solar system, the Scientific Method and asking questions, the movement of planets, a history of early astronomers;
Week 3: Into the Void:
Telescopes and making observations from far away, the types of telescopes astronomers use, an introduction to the electromagnetic spectrum and what kinds of light we can see, a “space walk” with photographs taken by world-famous observatories;
Week 4: Our Solar System:
Earth and our moon, introducing the terrestrial and Jovian planets, discussing objects that make guest appearances in our solar neighborhood, and what lies beyond;
Week 5: Star Stuff:
An introduction to the life-cycle of stars, including discussion about the categories of stars, formation of stars, fusion, the fates of stars, and how stars affect planetary formation;
Week 6: The Future of Astronomy:
Looking at the history of space probes and exploration, discussing the search for water in our solar system, introducing questions about extraterrestrial life and communication, as well as introducing modern questions that astronomers are struggling to answer.

Learning Goals

Students will be able to distinguish astronomy from other scientific disciplines, describe the objects in our solar system (planets, stars, asteroids, Kuiper belt objects, comets), make observations and ask questions per the Scientific Method, recall the history of solar system models, understand how stars shape the observable universe, describe some of the probes and missions exploring the universe, and learn what modern astronomical questions are still unanswered.

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Material from this class is sourced from "Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe" (7th Edition), published by Pearson (ISBN: 0321815351). Other video sources are provided by the Crash Course Astronomy, hosted by Phil Plait, found here: https://thecrashcourse.com/topic/astronomy/.

Meet the teacher

Joined June, 2020
4.9
67reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I was the Astronomy tutor for Converse College for three years, and assisted in reteaching material for Astronomy sections from August 2018 - May 2021. I also created the Astronomy classes for Connected Camps, and taught those courses for several years before beginning to teach my own Astronomy courses on Outschool in 2020, where I have taught this class for two summers. 

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