AstroTech - The Science and Technology behind Astronomical Discovery The University of Edinburgh

Overview

Modern astronomy has made some astonishing discoveries - how stars burn and how black holes form; galaxies from the edge of the universe and killer rocks right next door; where the elements come from and how the expanding universe is accelerating. But how do we know all that? The truth is that astronomy would be impossible without technology, and every advance in astronomy is really an advance in technology. But the technology itself is not enough. We must apply it critically with a knowledge of physics to unlock the secrets of the Universe.

Each week you’ll cover a different aspect of Astronomical technology, matching each piece of technology to a highlight science result. They’ll explain how technology works, how it has allowed them to collect astronomical data, and, with some basic physics, how they interpret the data to make scientific discoveries. 

Coursera allows you to preview the first module for free. You can choose this option when you enrol. If you wish to purchase the full course then you will pay in your local currency - the course price stated here may therefore vary depending on where you are in the world and the current exchange rate. Learners can apply for Financial Aid directly with Coursera to assist with the cost of accessing the full course and gaining a certificate for successfully completing the course.

What you'll learn

In this AstroTech - The Science and Technology behind Astronomical Discovery course offered by The University of Edinburgh, you will:

• Cover different aspects of astronomical technology

• Match pieces of technology to highlighted scientific results

• Learn how the technology works and how data is interpreted