A Cosmic Grand Tour: The Realms of the Universe




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In this course, we will explore the three fascinating realms of the cosmos: nearby planets and moons; the stars; and the galaxies (the great island of stars that turn out to be the building blocks of the universe.) Our discussion will be in everyday language, without any math, and will be accompanied by remarkable color images from the latest space probes and the world’s largest telescopes, including the latest breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Andrew Fraknoi
Andrew Fraknoi, retired chair of the astronomy department at Foothill College, continues to teach noncredit astronomy courses at San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco. He is lead author of OpenStax Astronomy, the most frequently-used, introductory astronomy textbook in North America. He appears regularly on radio, explaining astronomical developments in everyday language, and was named California Professor of the Year. He writes science fiction, has published eight stories, and has an asteroid named in his honor, recognizing his contributions to the public understanding of science.

Tuesdays, September 29 through November 3
  • 9/29/2026
  • 10/6/2026
  • 10/13/2026
  • 10/20/2026
  • 10/27/2026
  • 11/3/2026
4pm–5:30pm
https://vimeo.com/1173012052?fl=ml&fe=ec

Class Details

6 Session(s)
Weekly - Tue

Location
Virtual - Any Location

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition:  $73.00

Email olli@northwestern.edu for more information. Send to Friend »

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
9/29/2026 - 11/3/2026 Weekly - Tue 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM N/A, Virtual - Any Location  Map Matt Eckstein  ; Ashley Walter 

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