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The Open University

In the night sky: Orion

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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This introductory course uses Orion to explore the night sky, constellations, stellar birth and death, galaxies, the origins of the universe, planetary systems, and exoplanets.

Syllabus

  • Week1Week 1: Beginning the journey
  • Introduction
  • 1.1 Map of the night sky
  • 1.1.1 Meeting Orion
  • 1.1.2 Where is Orion?
  • 1.1.3 Finding Orion
  • 1.1.4 Who was Orion?
  • 1.2 What are constellations?
  • 1.2.1 Patterns in the sky
  • 1.2.2 Orion in 3D
  • 1.2.3 Moving constellations
  • 1.2.4 Signs of the Zodiac
  • 1.2.5 Name a constellation
  • 1.2.6 Navigating by the stars
  • 1.2.7 Finding your longitude
  • 1.3 Mapping the stars
  • 1.3.1 Gaia mission
  • 1.3.2 Behind the scenes with Gaia
  • 1.4 Week 1 quiz
  • Summary of Week 1
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week2Week 2: Travelling from star birth to star death
  • Introduction
  • 2.1 What is a star?
  • 2.1.1 Luminosity of a star
  • 2.1.2 What is a nebula?
  • 2.1.3 How far away is the Orion nebula?
  • 2.1.4 Size of a nebula
  • 2.1.5 Trapezium cluster
  • 2.1.6 Birth of a star
  • 2.1.7 The Orion nebula
  • 2.1.8 Protostar
  • 2.1.9 Photographing Orion
  • 2.2 The life of a star
  • 2.2.1 Types of star
  • 2.2.2 Mass, luminosity and temperature
  • 2.2.3 Nuclear fusion
  • 2.3 The death of a star
  • 2.3.1 Planetary nebula
  • 2.3.2 Supernovae
  • 2.3.3 Beautiful supernovae
  • 2.3.4 Cosmic onion
  • 2.3.5 Supergiant stars
  • 2.3.6 Exploding supernova
  • 2.3.7 The final remnants
  • 2.3.8 Neutron stars
  • 2.3.9 Black holes
  • 2.3.10 Black hole cannibal
  • 2.4 Week 2 quiz
  • Summary of Week 2
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week3Week 3: From the beginning
  • Introduction
  • 3.1 The Big Bang
  • 3.1.1 Open or closed universe
  • 3.1.2 Particle formation
  • 3.1.3 Evidence of expansion
  • 3.1.4 Hubble Ultra Deep Field
  • 3.1.5 Photographing Orion
  • 3.2 What is a galaxy?
  • 3.2.1 Different types of galaxy
  • 3.2.2 Merging galaxies
  • 3.2.3 Colliding and merging galaxies
  • 3.2.4 Galaxies gone wild!
  • 3.2.5 The Milky Way
  • 3.2.6 The Local group
  • 3.2.7 Galaxy Zoo
  • 3.2.8 Dark matter
  • 3.2.9 Dark energy
  • 3.3 The electromagnetic spectrum
  • 3.3.1 Objects at different wavelengths
  • 3.3.2 Observing the stars
  • 3.3.3 Telescopes in space
  • 3.3.4 Behind the scenes with Monica Grady
  • 3.4 Week 3 quiz
  • Summary of Week 3
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week4Week 4: Our place in the Universe
  • Introduction
  • 4.1 Habitable zone
  • 4.1.1 The right type of star
  • 4.1.2 Lifetime of a star
  • 4.1.3 The right type of galaxy
  • 4.1.4 Where we are
  • 4.1.5 Photographing Orion
  • 4.2 Protoplanetary discs
  • 4.2.1 Protoplanetary disc formation
  • 4.2.2 Collapse of a nebula
  • 4.2.3 Planetesimals
  • 4.2.4 The Solar System
  • 4.2.5 The asteroid belt
  • 4.2.6 Comets
  • 4.2.7 Philae lander
  • 4.2.8 A comet’s tail
  • 4.2.9 Where do comets come from?
  • 4.3 What is an exoplanet?
  • 4.3.1 Exoplanet encyclopedia
  • 4.3.2 Planet hunting – identification and observing techniques
  • 4.3.3 Gliese 581
  • 4.3.4 Transit experiment
  • 4.3.5 Other information from transits
  • 4.3.6 Protoplanetary disc example
  • 4.3.7 Life beyond the Solar System
  • 4.4 Week 4 quiz
  • End-of-course summary
  • Tell us what you think
  • Where next?
  • Acknowledgements

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