The Paris Observa-tory launches a new MOOC

10 October 2019

The Paris Observatory is launching on the France Université Numérique (FUN) platform a new MOOC : "Mesurer l’Univers - Measuring the Universe". You may sign up until October 20th 2019. The courses will start on September 23rd 2019.

Precursor in distanc teaching - via on-line training monitored by astronomers or via many other numerical freely available on-line (web sites, software tools) - the Paris Observatory is launching its fifth MOOC

The FUN offer is thus enriched by a new subject: «Measuring the Universe».

A teaser is already accessible on the FUN.

Course program

© Soufiane Ayadi / Observatoire de Paris

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What is the basis of the reasoning which has led to our current knowledge of the Universe? This MOOC sets up the various techniques used by astrophysicists to measure the the distances between the various parts of the Universe.

The course will introduce the concepts of astrometry, of reference systems, of celestial mechanics and the measurement of time: all these concepts are essential for measuring the Universe.

The program will occupy five weeks:

Week 1: Astrometry, Observations and Distances.
Week 2: The celestial spherer and reference systems.
Semaine 3: Ephemeris, celestial mechanics and astronomical phenomena.
Semaine 4: Civil time.
Semaine 5 : Physical time.

This MOOC does not deliver a certificate, but a document attesting that the participant has followed the entire course.

Each week, there is a test to evaluate the knowledge which has been acquired. A discussion forum enables all to contact directly the teaching team.

L’équipe pédagogique du MOOC

De gauche à droite : Jacques Féjoz, Meropi Morfouli, Jean-Eudes Arlot, Sébastien Lambert et Noël Dimarcq.
© Soufiane Ayadi / Observatoire de Paris

The origin of this MOOC

It is the fruit of work done by a pedagogic team from the Unité de Formation et d’Enseignement (UFE - Teaching and Training Unit) of the Paris Observatory composed of astronomer astronomers and researcher-teachers.

The technical realization was done by engineers from the TICE unit of the UFE.
The MOOC was financed in part by Paris Universitya Sciences et Lettres, of which the Paris Observatory is a founding member.