X-ray astronomy is more an more powerful since 50 last years. NASA’s satellites observe astronomical X-ray sources which help us to understand the universe. How does it work ? How to detect supernovae, quasars, neutron stars and even black holes thanks to X-ray astronomy ? It’s all about data and also amazing tools like DS9, an imaging tool we use to explore the universe.
After an introduction to the nature of image formation, this MOOC moves on to examples of how DS9 helps our understanding of real satellite data. You will using the actual data that scientists use when doing their work to discover supernovae and their remnants, periodic binary x-ray sources, and even extragalactic sources !
The professor of this X-ray astronomy MOOC is Dr. Terry A. Matilsky, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Jersey (Rutgers). This course is free if you only want to read the content of the course and to watch the videos. You will have to pay a few dollars if you want to access all of the course, including rating homework, and to have an official certificate to print or to share (on LinkedIn for example).
