The term astrophysics can be intimidating for some people, especially those new to science or astronomy. Astrophysics is just a branch of science that studies the lifecycles and the nature of objects in the universe. Astrophysics can also include the study of life and the environment surrounding celestial objects.
There are many different topics and subjects to explore under the umbrella of astrophysics. Online courses and resources are a great place to start learning about this topic, especially if you just a beginner. They are also great because they give you the freedom to learn at your own speed and in your own time.
Here is a list of courses to use as starting points to learn more about astrophysics.
Introduction to Physics
1. Fundamentals of Physics
Created by STEM Academy, this course teaches you the basics of physics. It is okay if you feel like you aren’t good at math or struggled at math in school. This course will slowly build up your confidence to explore the fundamentals of physics. Some of the topics include different kinds of motion, kinetic energy, concepts of force, and projectiles. The topics may sound scary, but the instructor breaks down the concepts slowly, so they are easy to understand an even easier to apply. After this course, you will be able to see how nature works and apply physics to real-world problems.
If you are interested in learning the basics of physics in a fun and simple way, then this course is designed for you.
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| Level: Beginners (with basic knowledge of algebra) Duration: 5.5 hours of video, 1 article, and 9 resources Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment Reviews: 70 reviews Rating: 4.3 |
2. Introduction to Astrophysics
Compiled by the Australian National University, this program in astrophysics consists of four full courses in astrophysics. Some of the instructors include Nobel Prize winners and pioneers in their fields. These renown astrophysicists will teach you about mysteries of space, including black holes, questions in cosmology, and exoplanets. They will teach you some of the methods used in astrophysics and demonstrate how they used these methods to study exoplanets. They will also tell you about the origin of the universe and the nature of celestial objects.
With high-profile astrophysicists, the program is excellent for beginners who want to learn about the basics of astrophysics and how it applies to the universe.
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| Level: Beginners (with basic knowledge of algebra) Duration: 5.5 hours of video, 1 article, and 9 resources Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment |
3. Classical Physics: Journey Through the Laws of the Universe
If you want to understand how math and movement lie at the foundation of our natural world, you should look into this course. This course in physics will teach you the skills needed to be successful in different fields of science that use mathematics. From this course, you will be able to perform and understand equations and problems in mechanics. You will be able to understand how motion works, and you will build the logic needed to solve differential equations. The course includes a section on how to use physics to build things, such as video games or animation.
By understanding where physics began and how it works, you will be able to move forward in learning more complex concepts in the field of physics. This course can help you get there.
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| Level: Beginners (with some basic math skills) Duration: 20 hours of video and 13 resources Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment Reviews: 64 reviews Rating: 4.6 |
4. Astrophysics: The Violent Universe
From the Australian National University comes yet another exciting online course. This time, astrophysicists will tell you about some of the most dangerous bodies in the universe—black holes and supernovae. They will tell you about how different stars and bodies work with quantum mechanics and collide with each other to create great explosions. You will look at some of the most dramatic interactions in space while examining the physics and mechanics that make them happen.
If you want a topic that is exciting and a little bit dangerous, look into this course on some of the deadliest celestial bodies that can be observed in space.
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| Level: Beginners (with some basic math skills) Duration: 9 weeks (3 hours per week) Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment |
5. Astrophysics: Cosmology
Do you wonder where the universe came from or how it developed? If so, this course in cosmology might interest you. Since cosmology attempts to understand the universe as a whole, this course will tackle some of the questions and mysteries surrounding the cosmos. You will learn about the nature of the universe, how it came to be, and where it may be going. Through reading easy and popular articles, you will learn some of the basic theories used in cosmological studies.
Answer all the questions you may have about the origin and trajectory of the cosmos by taking this course in cosmology.
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| Level: Beginners-Intermediate (with some basic math skills) Duration: 9 weeks (3 hours per week) Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment |
6. Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe
Just as the title tells you, this course is designed around the big and unsolved questions in the universe. This course aims to inform you about what scientists do know surrounding some of the most difficult questions in astrophysics. It will discuss life in space, the lifecycle of black holes, the first stars in the universe, and the materiality of the universe. The instructors will provide you with current research to get you up to speed on the greatest mysteries of the universe and what scientists think about them.
For those you want to be up-to-date on research and explore a good mystery about the universe, this will be an exciting and interesting course for you.
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| Level: Beginners-Intermediate (with some basic math skills) Duration: 9 weeks (3 hours per week) Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment |
Introduction to Universal Theory
7. A Course on Gravitation
This course in physics specifically applies physics to gravitational interactions and universal gravitation. After understanding some of the basics of gravitational interactions, you will look at it in relation to dynamics, Kepler’s laws, and the natural world. You will be given a step-by-step instruction on how to do the mathematics, so the conversions and values do not become overwhelming.
If you want to improve your knowledge of physics and its application, this course will help you gain some more knowledge.
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| Level: Beginners Duration: 1.5 hours of video Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment Reviews: 2 reviews Rating: 4.3 |
8. The String Theory
In his course, Edward Witten, a Fields Medal Winner in 1990, will tell you about string theory and its attempt to unify the universe through one common theory of time and space. You will learn from one of the greatest physicists about the histories of string theories and see their developments over time. The course will demonstrate how string theory is applied to the universe and what it may unveil about phenomena that happen in the world. You will learn about game theory through an in-depth approach and see how it can model behavior within the living world.
This course is for those wanting to understand string theories and see how they can be applied to everyday life.
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| Level: Beginners Duration: 1 hour of video and 3 articles Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment Reviews: 16 reviews Rating: 4.4 |
9. Extreme Phenomena
When this course refers to “extreme phenomena,” it means all the powerful and dangerous objects that exist in space. In this course, you will learn about black holes, white dwarfs, and other powerful celestial bodies. You will take a peek into how some of these objects are formed. Moving from stars, you will examine mega-galaxies and understand the nature of these celestial bodies.
For a straightforward guide into some of the most powerful objects in space, check out this online course.
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| Level: Beginners Duration: 36 minutes of video and 7 resources Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment |
Introduction to Spacecraft Propulsion
10. An Introduction to Physics of Space Flight
The science behind space flight may seem complex, but this course makes it easy. During this course, you will look into the basics of space flight and how humans can get giant ships into space. You will learn about gravity, projectile motion, circular motion, and orbits. Essentially, you will learn about space flight from the moment of launch to the moment of re-entry. The course will guide you with math, history, and science.
There is something of interest for everyone with this course, so why not take a look at how space flight works?
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| Level: Beginners Duration: 7.5 hours of video, 1 article, and 26 resources Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment Reviews: 17 reviews Rating: 4.6 |
11. Warp Drive Physics: Prepare for Warp Speed
Have you ever watched a science fiction movie where the spacecraft uses “warp drive” to get from one place to another? This course takes that concept and tackles it realistically. How does a faster-than-light propulsion system work? How is it different than other propulsion systems? This course will tell you the differences, and it will use concepts of velocity, time, and speed to do it. You will be reading about different quantum mechanics and theories of dimensions along the way.
Prepare to have some fun while thinking critically about topics in physics.
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| Level: Beginners Duration: 1.5 hours of video and 1 article Start Date: Open anytime, accessible after enrollment Reviews: 6 reviews Rating: 4.8 |
Taking Astrophysics Online
These are just a few of the online courses that can be found within the realm of astrophysics. This list is a good place to start, but you can always do more research on your own to explore more topics in the field.
Astrophysics can help you see the world differently because it truly is the study of the nature of the universe. While taking these online courses may be convenient, they will truly improve your mind and open it to the wonders of the universe.