Chevron Left
Back to Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space by University of Arizona

4.8
stars
3,590 ratings

About the Course

This course is designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about modern astronomy. We will help you get up to date on the most recent astronomical discoveries while also providing support at an introductory level for those who have no background in science....

Top reviews

WB

Dec 14, 2020

I really enjoyed working through the modules of this course. The material was interesting and enlightening. The self-paced format worked well for me and I will look for similar courses going forward.

BS

Mar 5, 2023

Diificult sometimes but surely a rewarding course in the end. I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to taking more advanced Astronomy courses.

Thanks Prof Impey and UA & Steward Observatory staff

Filter by:

101 - 125 of 1,234 Reviews for Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space

By Hreem M

•

Aug 8, 2020

Professor Chris Impey does an excellent job of being an Educator about the Cosmos and its related fields. From observational equipment to planetary bodies, stars, galaxies, moons, astrobiology, and even radiation and various wavelengths; he covers all in this course and much more, making it enjoyable to all. Even though I consider myself passionate and well-versed in astronomical concepts, I still learnt so many new things, adding to the vast knowledge one can gain from this field and satisfying as well as growing one's curiosity. Numerous thanks and heartiest regards to Professor Chris Impey, the Steward Observatory Teaching Team, as well as those on Coursera for making this happen. Much love!!

By Owen L

•

Jul 13, 2020

Very well done course! There's a bit of an over reliance on videos, which sometimes feature silly clips from TV shows or very odd music videos.

But overall the instructor is clear and engaging, the exercises test your attention and understanding, and there's a lot of material covered in a well structured format.

I would have liked to see a bit more physics and math and a wider variety of teaching formats (it's really just a lot of videos - the lecture slides are there but they're kind of useless). I really enjoyed the two projects, and the peer-reviewed writing exercises are useful if flawed. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in learning about the stars.

By Matko Z

•

Oct 4, 2016

I am a First year master in software engineering, but also a really curious "kid". In my search for interesting course related to astronomy I found this one.

Although I am only half way through the course I state that this is the most compelling course I have taken on Coursera. Since I have more then some knowledge of scientific method, physics and other topics talked about in the course, but not as much in astronomy I find the course tailored for me. Especially taking into account that this course is in the right spot between popular knowledge and a little bit of science and engineering.

Prof. Impley is excellent in explaining, even amazing at some points :)

By Deborah C

•

Aug 22, 2020

I was expecting a low-key introduction to commonly known information about astronomy with some new images from the Hubble telescope. I've taken similar on-line courses for the general public before. This course, in contrast, provided thought-provoking, challenging material in every unit. I found myself re-reading the supplementary materials, re-watching videos, and doing additional on-line research because my curiosity was piqued. Professor Impey is a master teacher, and the supporting materials in the class provide additional depth and perspectives, and sometimes a dose of humor through light-hearted videoclips. Thank you for this excellent course.

By Jennifer R

•

Jun 15, 2020

This course is fascinating, engaging and of high quality; Professor Impey is obviously interested in sharing his field with a wide audience. Although familiarity with physics and mathematics helps with understanding the material, no math or science background is required to enjoy and complete this course. The lecture videos are interspersed with photographs, diagrams, and videos. An online textbook is available to further delve into the subject matter. Two interesting projects are assigned, involving actual science online. And to top it off, Professor Impey had live Q&A sessions on YouTube live. Highly recommend to anyone curious about our universe!

By Garth M

•

Nov 1, 2020

Firstly, I would like to thank the UA for offering this eye-opening course about the final frontier. Secondly to Prof. Impey, who spent weeks or even months compiling all the videos, slides and notes that went into this Astronomy course - it was well worth it. A big thank you to the moderator, Christy Read, for the continued support and advice that she patiently and unselfishly provided to all who partook in this course.

I honestly enjoyed the Astronomy course and it provided me with new insight into our enigmatic, yet mesmerizing and fascinating universe. I would definitely sign up / enroll for similar courses in the future. LIVE LONG & PROSPER!

By Utkarsh T

•

Jun 8, 2019

This course has a deep impact on my vantage point about the obvious things that I have always taken for granted without considering the possibility of a scientific basis behind them. It helped me understand the fundamentals not only in astronomy but also real-life day-to-day things and I am so glad to write about historical viewpoints and beliefs that this course has provided me.

I am so impressed by the work of Professor Chris Impey and his team. You people have made it possible such an organized course for all the students(especially who are not from astronomy background).

Looking forward to be a part of any other similar course in the future.

By Matthew B

•

May 14, 2021

This course provides excellent introductory material in the field of astronomy. Dr. Impey is an effective and witty instructor who obviously cares about communicating complex ideas to a general audience. The material is logically laid out, beginning with astronomical history and progressing through the earth-moon system, the solar system, galaxy, and universe. If there was one criticism, it's that the material is getting a little dated. Several of the "future" experiments and observations have already been done, so it would be nice to have an update in these areas. Overall, a highly recommended course for those with a basic science background.

By Arjun S

•

Dec 7, 2017

This course has been a wonderful and very informative experience. Aimed at novices like me, it manages to explain very complicated stuff in easily understood ways. I guess Prof Impey is a fan of Carl Sagan and is carrying on his proud tradition of making difficult science more accessible to people who don't have the necessary training. However, I would advise future learners to spend as much time as possible researching the Teach Astronomy website which is an invaluable source for material directly connected to the course. You will find it much easier to tackle the assignments if you do. Can't wait for them to offer other courses like this!

By Karolina

•

Dec 21, 2020

I've chosen four courses on coursera and this course "Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space" was my favorite! I loved everything - video lectures and readings were very interesting and informative, tests and assignments were very helpful to absorb knowledge. I could never regret taking this course as I always dreamed to study physics and I was interested in astronomy since my childhood. I am truly grateful to professor Chris Impey and coursera for having this amazing experience which, hopefully, will encourage me to change my profession in future. And of course, I highly recommend this course to everyone who's interested in astronomy!

By Armando F

•

Jun 13, 2020

I was enthusiastic about this course in which I participated only for personal interest in astronomy without having curriculum or career purposes. I have discovered many interesting new things and above all I am now encouraged to continue to deepen the topics that most interested me.

I am sincerely admired by the vastness of prof. Impey is the naturalness with which he exposes even the most complex concepts.

Sincere congratulations! And many compliments and thanks also to the mentor Christy Read for the kindness and competence with which we have followed our work in these weeks

Many thanks to all the staff !!

By Shirley O

•

Mar 22, 2021

This was my first Coursera class, and my first science class since college (many years ago). I loved it and and sorry it is over. Professor Chris Impey is a very skilled teacher, and the instructional platform is excellent. No technical challenges whatsoever— and such interesting use of multi-media! But most of all, I loved the subject matter, learned so much (including much science), and am left with a great sense of wonder about the privilege of life we enjoy in this vast, expanding universe. The course was skillfully planned and flawlessly executed. Thank you to all who made this opportunity possible.

By Eric Y

•

Apr 28, 2017

Chris Impey eases into the subject of astronomy, with increasingly difficult subject matter as the course proceeds. However, he is very methodical and plain (in a good way) in his language, and his videos are a joy to watch. I started this course already interested in amateur astronomy and learned a lot of new things about the technology and methodology in astronomy. I'd recommend this to anyone who is really interested in astronomy. Be prepared to make a not insignificant commitment, because the course is nearly four months long! Time well spent in my opinion. Thank you to all who made this course possible.

By Brian M

•

Mar 15, 2022

As a beginner at astronomy this course exceeded my expectations for an introduction to the subject. I appreciated the fact that Dr. Impay did not talk down to the students and pushed us to undertsand the many concepts presented. Some of the topics about navigation and exobiology were unexpected, but enlightening. I always wondered what a practicing astronomer dealt with and now I feel I have a much better idea. I am nnot now an astronomer nor am I likely to ever be one, but I now have a better understanding of their language, tools, and their research. A very fine course. I highly reccommend it.

By David B

•

Aug 13, 2017

I have taken 5 or 6 online courses through Coursera and this have proven to be the most interesting of the lot. I enjoyed the professor's delivery style and all the topics that were covered. I had little knowledge of Astronomy before taking the course and now feel I have a much better insight into outer space. Great job Professor Impey and those that assisted. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in gaining a broader knowledge in science. You do not need to have any previous knowledge of Astronomy to be successful in this course and to gain knowledge from this great course.

By SAI P S R

•

Dec 5, 2020

Very good course. Had a good experience. very happy that I have completed the course. Thanks respectful Mr. Chris Imprey. His teaching made this course interesting. The materials provided were so useful to complete this course. I have learnt many things from this couse. This course not only gives information about astronomy. But also about different branches of Astronomy. Thanks for this valuable and worthy course. The point it is free is so good that anybody who are interested in astronomy can learn this course. I would recommend this course to my friends and neighbours. Thanks once again !

By Oriel S

•

May 12, 2021

This course was so good and very interesting. I am a beginner in science and Astronomy and I found the course lay out easy to follow. It was challenging but not beyond me. I learnt alot and I would like to do this course again because I feel that I could learn even more and go over some of the salient points again. I am also keen to do another Astronomy course by Chris Impey and his team and have found Astrobiology and so this is my next move. Thankyou so much to Chris Impey and to all of those involved in bringing the course to me the student. I am very grateful. Thankyou once again. Oriel

By David G J C B

•

Sep 6, 2020

I have nothing but positive thoughts for this course. Astronomy is a challenging topic and I went into the course with no major knowledge apart from what you can usually watch on TV or read on an occasional article, but the material is presented in a logical sequence and explained in clear ideas that help to grasp the topic. The Professor's delivery is excellent and very natural; as he is an absolute expert, he can explain complicated concepts in simpler terms.

This course is great for someone who has great curiosity for the field of astronomy and wants to take a little extra step into it.

By Elaine C

•

Apr 19, 2022

I loved the course. Professor Impey is very thorough, and I especially appreciated the readings, to firm up my background--even though they were very time consuming. Hopefully I'll still have access so I can go back and go through the ones I just eyeballed quickly for lack of time. I know that lecture material in the course needs to be updated, and will be. However, I keep up to date with what's going on in astronomy because of belonging to an astronomy society and for a few years, wrote for their publication...so the fact that some of this was outdated was not an issue with me.

By Sue W

•

Apr 13, 2021

I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed this course, in fact I'm sorry that it is over ! Thankyou, Dr Impey, for your truly excellent presentations. As an educator myself, I appreciate your style, and use of supplementary material wherever necessary. The course is so well constructed, so that I feel that I have learned a great deal, and a real interest has been awakened, so that I will continue to explore and discover as far as I possibly can. Thankyou so much, it has been an absolute pleasure to follow this course, and I recommend it to anyone who has the chance to do it.

By Aleksandar M

•

May 26, 2018

This course is a must for everyone interested in astronomy with very little to no prior knowledge. The instructor has huge experience in education and is clearly very familiar with the most common misconceptions people have. To me it was a fascinating journey from Earth, through our Solar system, to the most distant quasars. It also follows the Copernican revolution from the Heliocentric system, to Multiverse and Simulation theory.

Quizzes are not that hard, but there are some assignments to write. Some videos you might want to watch couple of times to fully understand them.

By Katherine K

•

Jul 26, 2020

I have an affection for space material and this astronomy course makes me fall in love with the realms beyond, all the more. The thought of many quizzes and essays did scare me initially, but it helps the student/learner to recap on the information presented. Professor Chris Impey is great at teaching/sharing and I would readily watch these again. Unfortunately the live Q&A (?) sessions are not suitable for my timing so I've not attended those before. I hope that more people will discover the wonder of the universe with this course and a greater appreciation for the stars.

By Vatsala S

•

Aug 17, 2020

An excellent course for astronomy enthusiasts or for people trying to learn something new, this course has excellent teaching material. Prof. Chris Impey clearly explains all most everything from the big bang to the future of our universe, the rich history of astronomy and the basics of quantum physics (only enough to understand the course material). Professor also adds a personal touch to the course and makes it more interesting by using pop culture references or showing videos. The only downside is that the quizzes are not very hard, either way I thoroughly enjoyed it.

By Peter A B

•

Nov 30, 2020

I cannot believe how much I learned from this course. I was thinking it was going to more of a course about our planets and where they are located in the sky. I didn't even realize until after I signed up that it was 11 weeks long. Many other courses were 6 weeks. Firstly, professor Impey is by far the best professor I have ever listened to. He talked about stuff that was way over my head and made me understand it by the time he was done. The course material is very indepth at no time did I feel like it was too much for me to understand. Thank you for that. Excellent.

By Dennis W

•

Dec 31, 2021

This comprehensive look at current astronomical theories and information is a wonderful way to introduce oneself to the subject. Years ago I took an "Astronomy for Non-majors" (also at UofA, but in person), and as I recall, that course dealt with really a fraction of what is taught here. I'm thrilled to have this information and plan to continue with other courses on this and other subjects. Thanks to everyone who planned and presented this course, with a special shout-out, of course, to Prof. Impey. Excellent teacher with a great attitude toward his field of study.