The course covers the following general topics in astronomy, each topic comprising one unit:

  1. Humanity and the Cosmos—this unit traces the evolution of the human perception of the universe from ancient times to the beginning of the modern scientific era.
  2. Tools of the Astronomer—this unit describes the various instruments used by modern astronomers. It also introduces students to the physics necessary to understand and interpret the data collected by these instruments.
  3. The Solar System—this unit describes the characteristics of the Sun, planets, and other bodies in our solar system.
  4. Stars and Their Properties—this unit describes the properties of stars: their classification, their diameters and masses, their structure, and their evolution over time.
  5. Galaxies and Cosmology—this unit discusses the structure of the universe. Topics include our own galaxy and its properties, other galaxies and their properties, quasars, and the large-scale structure of the universe.