In our introductory lecture, Dr. Brian Keating presents astronomy as humanity's oldest science, tracing its evolution from ancient naked-eye observations to modern scientific inquiry. He explores how early astronomers like Aristotle, Copernicus, and Galileo developed increasingly accurate models of the cosmos, while highlighting how even brilliant scientists made significant errors alongside their groundbreaking discoveries. The lecture emphasizes astronomy's unique accessibility as a science that anyone can practice with their own eyes, while also discussing its profound impact on human civilization through developments in timekeeping, navigation, and our understanding of our place in the universe.

In lecture two, we trace the evolution of astronomical observation tools—from the human eye to modern telescopes and detectors—and explore how technological advances have deepened our understanding of the universe. We examine the principles and development of refracting and reflecting telescopes, highlighting their strengths and limitations, and discuss the transformative role of spectroscopy in revealing the composition and motion of celestial bodies. The lecture also touches on the progression of astronomical imaging, from early hand-drawn sketches to today’s digital photography, showing how each breakthrough has expanded our ability to study the cosmos.

In lecture three, we learn about the cosmic distance ladder, a series of methods astronomers use to measure distances in the universe. Starting with measurements on Earth, we progress to the moon, sun, and planets using techniques like parallax and the inverse square law of light intensity. The lecture discusses the properties of our solar system, including the sun, planets, and minor bodies like asteroids and dwarf planets. We also delve into the exciting field of exoplanets, discussing how they are detected using the Doppler shift and transit methods, and the potential for these techniques to reveal signs of life and even technology on distant worlds.