Internet is a sea of knowledge and if used right one can obtain a great deal of education. We present to you, the courses on astronomy that can be found on Internet.
First Up…
Free Courses and Lectures
- Yale University Astronomy Lectures on Youtube
- Prof. Charles Bailyn teaches Frontiers/Controversies in Astrophysics (ASTR 160). A set of 24 lectures covering the basic topics in astronomy.
This would be a best way to start learning Astronomy. - Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzmFc2gjUo4&list=PLD79A28ED01799FE7
- Prof. Charles Bailyn teaches Frontiers/Controversies in Astrophysics (ASTR 160). A set of 24 lectures covering the basic topics in astronomy.
- Crash Course : Astronomy
- Phil Plait teaches you Astronomy in this set of videos on the YouTube Channel. Unlike the Yale Course, these videos stand apart for a more general audience that would prefer a non-classroom lecture series. The videos are shorter and the speaker is speaking to the camera aided by computer graphics and imagery. These series make Astronomy fun.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtPAJr1ysd5yGIyiSFuh0mIL
- Caltech: Public Astronomy Lecture Series
- A part of the monthly public lecture series organized by the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology is another set of videos that one can learn astronomy from. Unlike the above two series these series are delivered by various scientists and not by the same person and the topics discussed are targeted at a public audience and not students of science.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0yNjaybQwdudycotA6z0DFK5DZaXWE1J
- Astronomy 101 by Skynet University
- Skynet University, a product of the Internet, describing themselves as “Skynet is a global network of fully automated, or robotic, telescopes serving professional astronomers, students of all ages — graduate through elementary school — and the public over the internet.”, has a course put out on Astronomy so as to strengthen people to view know astronomy thereby helping people achieve Skynet’s purpose. Although the fans of Terminator (movie) might hesitate, astronomy enthusiasts can utilize this course to the fullest to know the basics.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbg-w2liDJI&list=PLaLOVNqqD-2FSk_Dj-_u9TffVPmeHKs-2
- 60 Seconds Adventures in Astronomy
- This is another Computer Graphics utilizing video series with an out of the box approach. Teaching various concepts of Astronomy in 60 seconds. Hosted by OpenLearn Open University, among their many courses, some of them certification courses, this is a course one must check out, especially those with short attention spans.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bPLY7orbVY&list=PLhQpDGfX5e7CSp3rm5SDv7D_idfkRzje-
- AST102IN Astronomy Course Lectures
- Meant as the videos for a course online, these lectures are simple and yet very effective. With users reporting good reviews.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcwpJoraJCk&list=PLT5KgGbN_RNRhYWuHiKrfDLmqjmtm0O-e
- PhysicsX Channel Astronomy Lectures
- Another lecture series on astronomy comes from the PhysicsX channel on Youtube. We couldn’t collect much info, but the topics covered are great.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO7qvAETCMs&list=PL8EC4ACB40CB37B9D
- National Geographic Videos Set
- And Finally, if you got into science because of the Idiot Box or the Internet, learning a majority of it from channels like National Geographic, then you are in luck. They have compiled a set of videos covering the topics of astronomy on Youtube.
- Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhKMQIRdaeo&list=PLh5EogqMEmmR5F6puhB2dpoI-s7eStEYj
Take on the Challenge: If you have gone through the above playlists and think you can take on advanced topics, then here you go!
Stanford University in their Lecture series on YouTube have included several topics covered by the great physicist, Leonard Susskind. Among these topics, ranging from Particle Physics, General Theory of Relativity and Modern Physics lectures, we found the lecture on Cosmology something worth adding to this list.
Here’s the video series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-medYaqVak&list=PLvh0vlLitZ7c8Avsn6gUaWX05uD5cedO-
Certification:
While the above courses are aimed at learning astronomy, if you want those hours to be documented well, then you can always do a course on astronomy online.
A simple google search (or bing! if that’s your thing..) will do, we suggest some courses on
- edX : edX is the trusted platform for education and learning. Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is home to more than 20 million learners, the majority of top-ranked universities in the world and industry-leading companies. With over 120 institutions offering courses on various topics.
- Coursera: Another Giant when it comes to online courses, coursera offers courses like edX, but from 190+ leading universities around the world.
- OpenLearn: Open Learn like coursera but the English version originating from United Kingdom.
- SWAYAM: The Indian version of edX offers courses from various certification bodies like CSIR, NPTEL – IITs, AICTE etc. which everyone can access online and offer a certificate at the completion of course.
- Currently there are no courses on Astronomy offered by Swayam, here’s an optimistic link to their astronomy courses that might show some results some day.
Like we said, the Internet is the vast like the void of space and filled with knowledge. What we’ve presented here is one solar system. There are billions and billions more to find. Make the most of it!