Cosmic Journey

This session is designed for younger students whose astronomy background level is intermediate and want to gain a deeper understanding about astronomy. Learners should have an understanding of our Solar System and basic astronomy terminology (i.e. What is a star/planet/moon? What is the difference between a solar system and galaxy?).

With the modern scientific age of powerful telescopes, astronomers have peered farther out into space and have uncovered an incredibly fascinating Universe. From our very own unique Solar System to the mysterious quasars, astronomy is an engaging and diverse area of science.

In this 10-week class, we will start at the beginning with the ancient astronomers’ understanding of the cosmos and work our way through to modern astronomy. Along our journey, we discuss what different space telescopes have contributed to astronomy, we’ll learn about planets beyond our own Solar System, and we’ll investigate some of the mysteries that astronomers have revealed about our Universe.

An optional review will be provided after each class to deepen the learner’s understanding of the lesson.

A course outline will be as follows:
Week 1: Ancient astronomy
Before the invention of the telescope, how did astronomers of ancient times view the heavens? What tools did they have to make scientific discoveries? In this class, we will study about some ancient astronomers and their contributions to scientific understanding.

Week 2: Telescopes and Optics
When Galileo first peered through the telescope at the night sky, astronomy was immediately changed forever. For the first time, moons of other worlds were visible and astronomers could take first-hand observations of distant places. In this class, we will learn the basic principles of how telescopes work and why they are so important to astronomy.

Week 3: Hubble Space Telescope
Modern astronomy would not be what it is without the Hubble Space Telescope. From its breathtaking images to its profound scientific discoveries, this telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. In this class, we will learn the history of the Hubble Space Telescope and study some of its major scientific contributions.

Week 4: Solar System Overview
We live in a unique place in the Universe. Our Solar System is an incredible place, with its eight planets, many dwarf planets, and other fascinating objects all gravitationally bound to our life-sustaining star. In this class, we will study about the components of our Solar System and look at some unique features of each.

Week 5: Tour the Milky Way
Our Solar System is nestled within a spiral arm of the Milky Way and is surrounded by stars, clusters, and nebulae. In this class, we will look at many different objects that make up our Milky Way Galaxy and where they are located in relation to our Solar System. 

Week 6: Exoplanets
While our Solar System is unique, scientists have discovered thousands of other worlds beyond our own. In this class, we will study about how astronomers detect exoplanets and learn about some interesting features of these alien planets.

Week 7: Changes in Space 
While we don't observe dramatic changes in most stars of our night sky, astronomers through the centuries have witnessed and recorded changes in the heavens. In this class, we will discuss how stars can change and how direct evidence can help astronomers understand more about stellar life cycles.

Week 8: Black Holes
Sometimes it is said that “fact can be stranger than fiction.” This holds true for the type of objects astronomers call ‘black holes.’ While there is still much about them that is unknown, scientists are beginning to unravel some of their mysteries. In this class, we will talk about what evidence astronomers have about black holes and we’ll also discuss some of the theories behind them.

Week 9: Tour the Universe
What makes up the Universe? Are galaxies randomly distributed throughout or do we see organization? What do astronomers see as they peer deeper into the Universe? In this class, we’ll talk about different objects that can be found in the Universe and where astronomers find them.

Week 10: The Electromagnetic Universe
There is much more to the Universe than what meets the eye. By using specialized telescopes that measure the Universe in different wavelengths such as X-rays and infrared, astronomers have a deeper understanding of the Universe. In this class, we’ll study about these telescopes and discuss what fascinating objects they have discovered and what scientific discoveries they have revealed.