The Peterson Academy Logo
    Join Now
    Dr. Brian Keating

    Dr. Brian Keating

    Astrophysicist

    In Intro to Cosmology, a nine-hour course, Dr. Keating takes us on a captivating journey through the cosmos, exploring its vastness, the tools used to unravel its mysteries, and the groundbreaking discoveries that have shaped our understanding of the universe. We examine the evidence for an expanding universe, the forces driving its evolution, and the cosmic fossils that shed light on its distant past and future. The course also delves into the enigmatic concepts of dark matter and dark energy, their roles in the universe's structure and fate, and the ongoing efforts to unravel these cosmic mysteries.

    Lectures

    • Lesson
      Locked

      1. Cosmology and Its Instruments

      In our first lecture, Dr. Keating embarks on a captivating journey through the cosmos, exploring the universe's vastness and introducing us to the tools used to unravel its mysteries. We delve into the history of cosmology, from ancient cosmological models to the groundbreaking discoveries of Galileo, Newton, and Einstein, and discuss the challenges and limitations of conducting experiments in astronomy and cosmology. The lecture highlights the incredible advancements in telescope technology, from Galileo's modest instrument to the James Webb Space Telescope, and the exciting possibilities they offer for understanding the universe's origins, structure, and future.

      Lecture Quiz
    • Lesson
      Locked

      2. Measuring the Universe

      In lecture two, we explore the pioneering contributions of early astronomers like Kepler and Galileo, who laid the foundation for modern astronomy despite their limited tools. We then delve into the methodology of the cosmic distance ladder, a series of techniques used to measure distances in the universe, from our nearest neighbors to the most distant observable objects. Dr. Keating introduces key concepts such as parallax, standard candles like Cepheid variable stars, and the luminosity distance method. Finally, we tackle Olbers' paradox, which questions why the night sky is dark if the universe is infinite and eternal, suggesting the possibility of a finite and expanding universe.

      Lecture Quiz
    • Lesson
      Locked

      3. Expansion and Origin

      In lecture three, we examine compelling evidence that the universe is expanding, highlighted by the work of Vesto Slipher and Edwin Hubble, who observed that nearly all galaxies show a redshift in their spectra, indicating they are moving away from us. We also discuss Hubble's law, which links a galaxy's distance to its redshift, serving as a crucial tool for measuring cosmic distances and providing evidence for the uniform expansion of the universe. The lecture concludes by exploring the profound implications of this expansion, including the possibility of a cosmic origin and the ongoing debate over the precise value of the Hubble constant, which influences the universe's expansion rate and age.

      Lecture Quiz

    Enroll in Peterson Academy today

    What's included in our annual membership

    4 New Courses Monthly

    World-Class Professors

    41,107 Students Enrolled

    Intellectually Driven Community

    41+ 8-Hour Lectures

    7-day money-back guarantee

    Annual Tuition

    Join now and gain full access to all current and future Peterson Academy courses with 4 new courses a month, optional testing, and access to our community for one year.

    $399

    $599

    (billed annually)

    Join Now Gift It

    FAQ

    Peterson Academy Logo
    • Contact Us
    © 2025 Peterson Academy
    Terms of Use Consent Preferences Your Privacy Choices Principles of Conduct © 2025 Peterson Academy

    production (1.42.1)