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Quick Facts

Medium Of Instructions	Mode Of Learning	Mode Of Delivery
English	Self Study	Video and Text Based

Course Overview

Introduction to Astrophysics is an introductory level online programme offered by edX. The online programme will guide the learners through astronomical objects and the physical occurrences that take place in them. The online certification course is provided by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFLx).

Administered by edX, the Introduction to Astrophysics Certification introduces the learners to the fundamentals of physics with the help of mathematical development of gravity, gravitational lensing, and interaction between matter and radiation. Plus, the Introduction to Astrophysics Certification Syllabus will enable the student to connect the theoretical assumptions with the observation in astrophysics.

The Introduction to Astrophysics Certification by EPFLx provides two methods of enrolment, namely, the verified track and the audit track. The online course can be taken by learners who know about physics and math of bachelors and will be held for 3-4 hours per week. For free access, students may choose the limited audit track and for unlimited access, they must choose the paid verified track.

The Highlights

Available on edX
Offered by EPFLx
7 Week-long Course
Free course (Optional upgrade available)
Complete Online Course
Audit and Verified Tracks Available
Shareable Certificate Upon Completion
Self-paced Course

Programme Offerings

Graded Assignments and Exams
edX support
English medium
intermediate level course
Video transcript in English

Courses and Certificate Fees

Fees Informations	Certificate Availability	Certificate Providing Authority
INR 14835	yes	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

The candidates who want to join the Introduction to Astrophysics Online Course will have two modes of enrolment; the audit track and the verified track. Through the audit track, the learners will be given access to the non-graded assignments and discussion forums without paying the fee. Whereas, in the verified track, the learners will be provided with access to all features of the online course and pay the Introduction to Astrophysics Certification Fee.

Introduction to Astrophysics Fee Structure

Course Title	Total Fee
Introduction to Astrophysics (Verified Tracks)	INR 14,835

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Qualifications

The learners who are in the plan of joining the Introduction to Astrophysics Certification Course are required to have a bachelor's level Physics and Math including Derivatives and Taylor expansions, Integral calculus, Trigonometry, and 1st order differential equations.

What you will learn

Knowledge of physicsKnowledge of Astronomy

By the end of Introduction to Astrophysics Training, the students will have the opportunity to make a deep understanding of the following things:

Influence of gravity on celestial bodies
Matter-radiation interactions
Star formation and evolution
Basics of cosmology

Who it is for

PhysicistAstronomerAstronaut

The Introduction to Astrophysics Classes are highly recommended for the professionals like Astronaut, Astronomer, and Physicist.

Admission Details

Step 1 - First, the learners are required to register in edX at https://www.edx.org/ to get access to the EPFLx course on edX.

Step 2 - After activating the edX account, click on SCHOOLS & PARTNERS ‘Category’ given on the home page of edX to find courses from EPFLx and click on the EPFLx logo.

Step 3 - Scroll down and Search for Introduction to Astrophysics on the page on EPFLx-provided courses.

Step 4 - Then Click on the course.

Step 5 - Choose the tab ‘Enroll’

The Syllabus

Parallaxes and Parsec
General Introduction
Mass and Distance scales
Kepler's Laws
Virial Theorem
Potential Energy of a Sphere
Numerical Illustrations of Virial Theorem

Radiation processes in Astrophysics
Line and Continuum Radiation
Examples of Spectra
Radiated Energy and Units
Radiation Pressure
Bremsstrahlung and Synchrotron Radiations
Black Body Radiation
Total Luminosity (sigma T^4)
Wien's Law
Atomic Emission Lines
The Case of Hydrogen
How to Measure Radiation
Flux, Luminosity, Filters
Illustration: How do we Make True Color Images?
Magnitudes
Color of Celestial Bodies
Distance Modulus

Doppler Effect
Doppler Measurement
Stellar Rotation
Exoplanets and Stellar Radial Velocities
Hubble Law
Interstellar Medium
Nebular Emission, Stromgren Sphere
Absorption, diffusion (Mie et Rayleigh)
Optical Depth
Reddening
Tidal Forces
Influence on Moon-Earth Distance
Distance to the Moon Using Laser Measurements

Roche Limit
Example of Saturn's Rings
Example of a Comet Disrupted by Jupiter's Tidal Forces
Cometary Tails and Radiation Pressure
Energy Balance
Global Warming
Planetary Atmospheres
Hydrostatic Equilibrium
Atmospheric height-scale

Stellar Formation
Free-fall Time
Jeans' Mass and radius
Kelvin-Helmholtz Time
Stellar Energy Balance
HR Diagram
Spectral Classification
Effect of Reddening
Radius-Luminosity Relation
Stellar Evolution in the HR Diagram
Stellar Deaths
Supernovae, Planetary Nebulae, White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars
Age of Stellar Clusters

Galaxies: General Description
Morphological Classification
Numerical Illustrations
The Milky-Way
Oort Constants and Galactic Motion
Rotation Curves of Spiral Galaxies
Elliptical galaxies and the Virial Theorem
Galaxy Clusters
Dark Matter

Big Bang: Basic Presentation
Hubble Expansion
Cosmological Redshift
Cosmic Background Radiation
Distance Ladder
Hubble Diagram
Cepheids as Distance Indicators
Supernovae as Distance Indicators
Gravitational Lenses
Deflection Angle
Properties of Gravitational Lenses
Light (apparent) Magnification
Einstein Radius
Caustics and Critical Lines

Instructors

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1: Which institution is offering the Introduction to Astrophysics Online Course?

The online programme is offered by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFLx).

2: In which mode the Introduction to Astrophysics Online certification is offered?

The online programme is offered in online mode and the learners can attend it at their own pace.

3: What is the duration of the Introduction to Astrophysics Online certification course?

The learners can complete the online course within the duration of 7 weeks.

4: Who is the instructor of the Introduction to Astrophysics Online course?

The instructors are Frédéric COURBIN, the Professor at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Vivien Bonvin, the Doctoral Assistant at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne and Thibault Kuntzer, the PhD student in Cosmology at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.

5: How many hours do the learners need to spend for the course per week?

The learners will need to devote around 3 to 4 hours per week to the online course.