History of Astronomy

Undergraduate

This online course explores the contributions to astronomy made by First Nations, Indian, Chinese, Mayan, Australian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, and Islamic cultures. We start with oral history traditions and follow with explorations of early astronomical instruments and their applications. We will examine medieval European views and how these led to the philosophies of modern astronomy. The course will also highlight how we came to move from a ‘geocentric’ to a ‘heliocentric’ view of the solar system by examining the contributions of Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton. (Open to students with semester 3 and above standing.) (May be taken by BSc and BFS students for credit, but satisfies only the course requirements for “any area of study” toward the fulfilment of the requirements for a BSc or BFS.) (Online asynchronous delivery.)