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The Astrophysics online course is for anyone interested in astronomy-the study of the universe, and the application of physics to interpret astronomical observations. Those who have excellent knowledge of this subject can seek career opportunities as an astronaut, professor, aerospace engineer, lab technician or scientist. Fortunately, there are several astrophysics online courses. These courses allow you to learn in the comfort of your home. Moreover, they are affordable. In this blog, we have listed some of the top astrophysics online courses.
| Course | Value |
| ANU’s Astrophysics XSeries Program | Certification from the Australian National University |
| Introduction to Astrophysics | Certification from EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology |
| From the Big Bang to Dark Energy | The best course to learn about the Big Bang and dark energy |
| Astro 101: Black Holes | The best course to learn about black holes |
| Understanding Modern Physics I: Relativity and Cosmology | Get certification from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
| MIT OpenCourse Ware Astrophysics I | Free graduate-level course on Astrophysics |
| Exploring the Universe (Online) | Learn from Oxford University instructors |
| Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics | Learn from Yalue University instructors |
| Udemy Astrophysics Online Courses | Short courses on astrophysics |
| Swayam Nuclear Astrophysics | The best course to learn about Nuclear Astrophysics for intermediate learners |
This Blog Includes:
- 10 Best Astrophysics Online Course
- ANU’s Astrophysics XSeries Program
- Introduction to Astrophysics
- From the Big Bang to Dark Energy
- Astro 101: Black Holes
- Understanding Modern Physics I: Relativity and Cosmology
- MIT OpenCourse Ware Astrophysics I
- Exploring the Universe (Online)
- Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics
- Udemy Astrophysics Online Courses
- Swayam Nuclear Astrophysics
- FAQs
10 Best Astrophysics Online Course
Here is a list of the top 10 astrophysics online courses. We have included the course duration, fees, and other details for your reference.
ANU’s Astrophysics XSeries Program
The Australian National University (ANU) offers an excellent astrophysics online course. The course consists of 4 modules- Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe, Astrophysics: Exploring Exoplanets, Astrophysics: The Violent Universe, and Astrophysics: Cosmology. The curriculum covers the foundational courses and is taught by prestigious leaders in the field (including Nobel Prize winners). The course can be taken by anyone in any order.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 10 months |
| Fee | INR 17,727 |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://www.edx.org/xseries/australian-national-university-astrophysics
Learn all about Bachelor’s in Astrophysics
Introduction to Astrophysics
EPFL offers one of the best astrophysics online courses for beginners. Introduction to Astrophysics covers topics like the Influence of gravity on celestial bodies, Star formation and evolution, Matter-radiation interactions, and the Basics of cosmology. However, to enrol in this course you must have Physics and Maths (1st year of bachelor) subjects like Trigonometry, and Integral calculus. The course comes with a certificate.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 7 weeks |
| Fee | INR 14939 |
| Certificate | Yes |
From the Big Bang to Dark Energy
The University of Tokyo offers one of the top-notch astrophysics online course for beginners. The course covers 4 modules- From Daily Life to the Big Bang, The Birth of Elements and Higgs Boson, Dark Matter and anti-matter, and Inflation and Dark Energy. The course can be completed within a month and is available for beginners. You will also receive a certificate upon course completion.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 31 hours to complete |
| Fee | NA |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/big-bang
Astro 101: Black Holes
The University of Alberta offers another interesting astrophysics online course. The course is meant for anyone interested in learning about the black hoes. The course will give you an introduction to black holes, the life and death of a star, spacetime structure, and sizing and approaching a black hole. You will also learn about hunting for a black hole.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 18 hours to complete |
| Fee | NA |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/black-holes-astro-101
Understanding Modern Physics I: Relativity and Cosmology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology offers a course on understanding modern physics. This course is meant for beginners and comprises 5 modules. You will learn about the relativity of space and time, special relativity: length, simultaneity, and Lorentz Transformation, Special Relativity: Geometry, Energy, and Momentum, General Relativity, and Cosmology. The course has video-based content and quizzes. A certificate will be available for download.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 12 hours to complete |
| Fee | NA |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/understanding-modern-physics-1-relativity-and-cosmology
Learn all about MSc in Astrophysics
MIT OpenCourse Ware Astrophysics I
MIT OpenCourse Ware Astrophysics I is a graduate-level astrophysics online course. The course covers several topics from stellar structure and evolution to galactic dynamics and dark matter. The course comprises of video-based content, readings, and assignments. The drawback? No certification is available. However, there are examinations held.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self paced |
| Fee | Free |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/8-901-astrophysics-i-spring-2006/pages/readings/
Exploring the Universe (Online)
The Oxford University; ‘s Department of Continuing Education offers an excellent astrophysics online course. By the end of this course, you will be able to critically evaluate astronomical ideas and theories, independently search for relevant information, become familiar with navigating and critiquing popular and technical material, and discuss scientific ideas with peers. Assessment of your knowledge is conducted, and feedback is given. You can gain 10 CATS points by taking this course. A certificate is also available.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | NA (6 units) |
| Fee | $6360 |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/exploring-the-universe-online
Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics
Yale University’s Open course- Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics is one of the leading astrophysics online courses. The course covers 3 areas of astronomy- Black Holes, Extra Solar Planets, and Dark Matter, The course explores what we know, what we don’t know, and how astronomers are trying to find out what we don’t know about the universe. Weekly problem sets are given that contain both essay time and quantitative questions. The course consists of a total of 23 lectures.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | NA |
| Fee | NA |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://oyc.yale.edu/astronomy/astr-160
Udemy Astrophysics Online Courses
Udemy is an excellent platform for short astrophysics online courses. Popular courses in this platform are Introduction to Astro Physics, and Quantum Physics from Beginner to Expert, Gravity -the basics and more. Each course consists of video based content, and downloadable resources. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. The course is accessible both on TV and mobile devices.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Varies |
| Fee | Starts at INR 449 per course |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?src=ukw&q=Astro+Physics
Learn about Astrophysics Colleges in India: Courses, Syllabus, Eligibility, Fee Structure, & Scope
Swayam Nuclear Astrophysics
This course is solely meant for Physics, and Engineering Physics students. The course is covered over 8 weeks and is taught by Prof. Anil Kumar Gourishetty. The course is AICTE-approved and requires the student to have a basic understanding of nuclear physics. The course is conducted in a pre-recorded video format. The course comes with a certificate. The drawback? To take the final examination you will have to go to the location mentioned in the hall ticket.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Fee | Free |
| Certificate | Yes |
Website: https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc22_ph18/preview
FAQs
Yes. You can learn astrophysics online. An online course certification is suitable to build a strong foundation in the subject. For research or academic positions, you will have to enrol in a doctoral degree program,.
MIT’s Open Courseware- Astrophysics course is available for free. However, this is a graduate-level course. Hence, not suitable for beginners. Moreover, the course doesn’t offer a certificate.
Definitely! NASA’s workforce consists of astrochemists, astrophysicists, physicists, planetary scientists, and astronomers. Therefore, an astrophysicist with the right set of skills can get a job at NASA.
Hope this blog provides you with all the important details. For more information about such courses, visit our online courses page.
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