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Learner Reviews & Feedback for The Science of the Solar System by Caltech

4.8
stars
771 ratings

About the Course

Learn about the science behind the current exploration of the solar system in this free class. Use principles from physics, chemistry, biology, and geology to understand the latest from Mars, comprehend the outer solar system, ponder planets outside our solar system, and search for habitability in our neighborhood and beyond. This course is generally taught at an advanced level assuming a prior knowledge of undergraduate math and physics, but the majority of the concepts and lectures can be understood without these prerequisites. The quizzes and final exam are designed to make you think critically about the material you have learned rather than to simply make you memorize facts. The class is expected to be challenging but rewarding....

Top reviews

CE

Mar 3, 2020

Learning facilitated by good lecturing, well prepared lectures and excellent quizzes.

Lecturer Mike Brown, enthusiastic about his subject, generous in sharing his knowledge, humorous, and honest.

PK

May 24, 2019

The lectures are engaging and replete with thought provoking material. Professor Brown's in depth knowledge of the field and his passion for planetary science aroused an everlasting curiosity.

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76 - 100 of 281 Reviews for The Science of the Solar System

By Clement M

Nov 19, 2022

This has reconciled me with online courses. I have used parts of it to inspire and inform a planetary science class I teach at the University of York and I am very grateful such a resource exists. The constant nods to the research literature were very useful and pedagogical. Fantastic lecturer, fantastic lectures.

By Kim

May 28, 2017

The more you hear in this class, the more you will look up at the night sky in awe and wonder. Do it, and tell a friend! :-)

The video lectures are a fantastic and entertaining look at the puzzles of our solar system, how some of the answers are being teased out, and the special world of astronomy in general.

By Sean F

Aug 17, 2023

Fantastic course. Professor Brown is very personable and methodical in his delivery. Though designed primarily for students with a science background, the course is still accessible for those with liberal arts backgrounds (like yours truly). Learned a great deal. Inspired to pursue more courses in this field.

By Ritabrata M

Jan 2, 2017

Incredible Content on Display. Amazing Execution by the Profs. Besides fundamental prerequisites of physics and math(which are required) ,each topic is taken up from scratch and dealt with respect to its application.No wonder Caltech is the world leader in planetary science.Go Ahead and immerse yourselves!

By William M

Jan 15, 2018

Truly an outstanding course by an incredibly gifted Planetary Scientist and teacher. The course was thorough, demanding and comprehensive. Additionally, some of the course information conveys the latest scientific thinking, more up to date than some of the latest textbooks on Planetary Science.

By Valentin P

May 31, 2017

A challenging course with great informative and entertaining video lessons. You will get to learn some surprising facts about what we know and what we don't know about the members of our solar system. It is one of the best courses in this subject area (astronomy, space, etc) in all of Coursera.

By LAFOND T

Feb 18, 2023

This mooc is a real pleasure. I found a scientific approach and a concern to remain accessible and understandable. The videos are interesting and the management of the table is relevant.

It took me a while to finish it but it was really worth it. Thanks again for the lectures.

It was fascinating.

By 根岸雅弘

Aug 22, 2022

I didn't know that the instructor of this course was an amazing person like Professor Mike Brown. I'm looking forward to purchasing and reading "How I Killed Pluto and Why Had It coming" as well. I'm also looking forward to Lucy Mission. Thank you for your lecture. Space is really fun.

By Pranavi V

Jun 6, 2020

Loved the lectures series by Professor Mike Brown. So interesting and humorous way of teaching which makes learning so fun and spellbinding! Would love to learn more from Professor Mike Brown about his thought-provoking insights of the composition of dwarf planets and the Kuiper belt.

By Dean F

May 2, 2020

I highly recommend this course. Mike Brown is exceptional at making learning enjoyable and the course materials go beyond that of which I expected. If you have even the smallest inkling of interest of how things work in the solar system, I suggest you check this course out!

By Stephen L H

Aug 31, 2020

I particularly enjoyed the final exam. It's rare to find an exam written that reinforces the course material in the process of taking the exam and figuring out which statement among many is false requires considerable review to answer. Very, very cool class and thanks.

By Carlos H R

Aug 17, 2022

The best course so far I had the opportunity to do. Not just because the subject, which I am passionate, but also because the way Prof Mike teaches. You see the videos and just want to carry on to the following and keep learning more and more. I highly recommend it!

By David M

Jun 1, 2016

The was the best course I've taken through Coursera. The material was fascinating. The instructor has a great enthusiasm for the topic and delivers his lectures in an engaging style. The test and quizzes were quite challenging. Can't recommend highly enough.

By Bruce J A

Jul 30, 2017

Anyone wanting to know basic current information about our Solar System and the new missions that support the continued discovery in this field should take this course. Professor Brown you did a superior job creating this very informative course, thank you.

By Yannis L

Sep 7, 2020

super-informative, if a little outdated knowledge about our Solar System... provides a SOLID foundation of the extraordinary amount of science that happens behind every major announcement of the last decade... a stunning achievement of public outreach!

By Jon A

May 30, 2017

Such an awesome course from an awesome instructor! Challenging but well worth the effort. I took this course a couple years ago, and want to re-take it now to see what's new with Europe, Jupiter, Saturn, Titan, Pluto, and Planet Nine!! Keep exploring!

By YiFan ( Z

Jul 5, 2018

Absolutely fantastic; stunned at the detail and complexity in which the material is covered with. The Instructor is very engaging and he has a genuine passion for this topic. The material is challenging but manageable. Definitely will recommend.

By Jennifer S

Feb 26, 2021

Very interesting content in bite-size chunks & explained for all levels of understanding. Gives a great overview of how the solar system & everything within it formed and teaches you how to use the tools you have to critically analyse results

By Maria A C T

Apr 23, 2019

Muy didáctico. Bien diseñado. Los instructores hacen muy interesante y agradable el aprendizaje. Es un curso completo del que se puede aprender ademas del contenido en sí, cómo preparar un buen curso.

Felicitaciones por la excelente calidad

By M

Mar 3, 2023

Great teaching. Enjoyed my time here. The only minus is that lessons should be in part updated (last data are from around 2016) especially considering what we now learned from Pluto, Ceres, Voyager in the Oort zone, landing on comets, etc

By Tee S Y

Jul 19, 2020

A wonderful course! It is challenging yet, Prof. Browns guide us through in an easy manner. This is my first exposure to astronomy, the craters and boring photos now look much more interesting to me! Thank you so much!

By mandy B e

Jun 7, 2020

I LOVE THIS CLASS I have LEARN ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSE AND A LOT . MORE.

I enjoy taking your class . because I love learn about astronomy. thank you Mandy Evans from Cave, city Arkansas,

By Diego O R

Jul 30, 2021

Excelent course! I began only interested in learning about Mars and ended up amazed by all of the Solar System! Thank you Professor Brown as well as the whole Caltech and Coursera team, I really aprechiate it !!

By R. “ G

Sep 20, 2018

I have taken and taught many online courses using various platforms. This is by far the best courses I have taken. It is well organized and the content cover is beyond my expectations. Excellent course!

By Katherine C

Jun 7, 2020

While the course was challenging, it was really interesting and very well taught. It has encouraged me to pursue astrophysics further and I have improved my thinking skills because of it.