THE COSMIC SYSTEM

Catalog description

This course provides a tour of the universe from our own Sun and solar system to the very edge of space and time itself. Topics include the 8 planets, our Sun and the structure of stars, nuclear fusion as a stellar energy source, stellar evolution, the Milky Way galaxies and galaxy formation, large scale structure, and the fate of the universe. We finish with a discussion of exoplanets and the possibility of other life in the universe. No prior knowledge of astronomy is necessary. (3 credits)