Modern Cosmology and the Distant Universe

Qualification gained:

A Certificate of Professional Development in Astronomy will be awarded for the successful completion of this module. This module is assigned 12 credit points which can be used to build up credits towards other academic qualifications at Liverpool John Moores University and other Universities.

We provide:

CD-ROM and necessary course software, full tutor support for the duration of the course (by post, email, telephone and fax), course video, news group for student discussion and course website.

You need:

Good access to a computer with CD-ROM player. The computer needs to be able to run an Internet browser although you do not need to be connected to the Internet to take the course.

Commitment:

The course lasts for four months. You will be expected to produce four pieces of coursework and then take a multiple-choice test over the Internet at the end of the course. Overall we expect that you will put around 120 hours of time into the course.

Assessment:

You will need to email, post or fax us your work for the course. The weighting for the assessed work will be as follows: Coureswork (70%), Multiple Choice Test (30%).

Course Contents:

1: The Isotropic and Homogenous Universe
What does the Universe look like? Are we in a special place in the Universe? Would the Universe look different if the Earth was in a different galaxy? Does space looks the same in every direction at every point? This part of the course is an opportunity for people who are unfamiliar with computers to learn the use of a personal computer and to become accustomed to the world wide web.

2: Measuring Distances to the Furthest Galaxies
One of the fundamental questions in astronomy today is the determination of the distance scale in the universe. Are brighter objects brighter because they are closer, or because they are intrinsically brighter?

3: The Age and Size of the Universe
How big is the Universe? How old is it? How can we accurately determine the size and the age of the Universe?

4: The Material Content of the Universe
How much of the Universe can we actually see? What is the evidence for Dark Matter? Is there sufficient mass in the Universe to cause it to collapse?

5: The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

6: The Formation and Evolution of Galaxies

7: Physical Conditions Shortly After the Big Bang