An Introduction to Astronomy
This 13 part astronomy course is one of two I have created. This course focuses on astronomy as a science where we will learn about various astronomical concepts such as magnitude scale, scale factor, calculating distances in space, how stars work and much more.
My other course focuses on observational astronomy and stargazing and covers topics such as buying a telescope and setting it up, how to use star charts, how to observe some astronomical targets, polar alignment and more.
So with that said, lets get started learning about astronomy!
Lesson 1 - Astronomy for Beginners - Complete Guide
Astronomy began tens of thousands of years ago and has thrilled mankind throughout the ages with the many wonders to be seen in the heavens.
Lesson 2 - What are Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec)?
We will look at how to locate objects using Right Ascension and Declination coordinates and what the Celestial Sphere are ecliptic are.
Lesson 3 - What is Angular Size in Astronomy?
Angular size is a geometric concept and a key astronomical metric. We look at how angular size measured and what arcminutes & arcseconds are
Lesson 4 - Magnitude Scale and Distance Modulus in Astronomy
Visual magnitude scale measures relative brightness of objects in the night sky. It has many uses, including calculating distance to stars.
Lesson 5 - Sidereal Time, Civil Time and Solar Time
Sidereal time is a method astronomers use to locate objects. Using sidereal time its possible to point a telescope to an object in the sky.
Lesson 6 - What Are The Equinoxes and Solstices About?
Each year the changing of the seasons is defined by equinox and solstices. What are they and why do they happen? Find out in this guide.
Lesson 7 - How Do We Measure Distance in Space Using Parallax and Parsecs
A look at the ways which astronomers measure distance in space covering parallax, distance modulus, variable stars, supernova and redshifts.
Lesson 8 - Brightness, Luminosity and Flux of Stars Explained
Luminosity and flux are a measure of the total energy radiated by a star, galaxy, or another object per unit time in joules/second or watts.
Lesson 9 - Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion Explained
Johannes Kepler discovered a link between distance from the Sun and a planets orbital period. This became Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion.
Lesson 10 - What Are Lagrange Points?
Lagrange Points are points where an object can orbit a fixed distance from two larger masses and gravitational pull equals centripetal force
Lesson 11 - List of Astronomy Equations with Workings
Use this Astronomy Equations Cheat Sheet to help find the equations you are looking for, then see the relevant page for tutorials and how to use the equations.
Lesson 12 - Glossary of Astronomy & Photographic Terms
Use this glossary of astronomy terms to look up the many technical terms and definitions that you may be unfamiliar with in astronomy.
Lesson 13 - Astronomical Constants - Useful Constants for Astronomy
The IAU system of constants defines a system of astronomical units for length, mass and time, and also includes astronomical constants.
