About

It's hard to imagine something that's billions of years old. But the Universe is believed to be around 13 billion years old. So there's an endless amount of fascinating information to discover about planets, stars, comets, galaxies, meteors, asteroids and black holes, and so much more!

Start studying our Astronomy for Beginners course online today. Your friends and family will be astounded by your newfound knowledge of life and the universe.

Recommended Study Time: 30 hours. Completion qualifies you for 30 CPD points. See the Certification section for details.

Requirements

International Open Academy courses are designed for anyone with an interest in learning. No formal qualifications are required to study with us. Our courses are suitable if you want to learn new skills, start a new career, or if you’re already working in a particular industry and wish to upgrade your talents and enhance your resume.

Lessons

Module 1: The Night Sky

• What is Astronomy?
• A brief history of Astronomy
• Branches of Astronomy
• Astronomical phenomena
• Basics of the Celestial Sphere
• Becoming an amateur sky watcher
• How to read the night sky
• Stargazing equipment

Module 2: The Moon And Planets

• Facts about the moon
• Lunar phases
• Observing the moon
• The planets of the solar system
• Planetary facts
• Identifying characteristics to observe planets
• Dwarf planets

Module 3: Meteors, Comets, And Asteroids

• Characteristics of meteors, comets, and asteroids
• Observing meteor showers
• Halley’s Comet and other famous cases
• Identifying “shooting stars” and other comets
• The dangers of Asteroids
• How to view evidence of asteroids in the night sky

Module 4: The Stars And Zodiac

• Facts about stars
• Star formation
• Star clusters and supernova
• Identifying the constellations
• The 13 Zodiac constellations
• Astronomy vs. Astrology

Module 5: A Greater Understanding Of The Universe

• Black holes
• The Milky Way
• Galaxies
• The Big Bang
• Extrasolar life forms
• Sighting mysterious activity in the night sky

Career

Who is this course for?

• Everyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered about the stars! It doesn't matter if you've never looked through a telescope, all you need is your curiosity to be able to start learning about the stars
• People with a curiosity of the solar system and how the universe works
• Students who want to become further educated in how the acts of the universe impact life on Earth

Career path

After completing this course, you could:

• Explore an exciting career in astronomy
• Expand your scientific knowledge
• Host walks and talks on the sky at night