Modern Astronomy

This two-week, in-person program will introduce students to the fundamentals of modern astronomy and astrophysics, from the life cycles of stars to the evolution of galaxies. We'll also talk about the most recent and exciting results in the field, such as the exciting new science being produced by the James Webb Space Telescope.

In addition, students will gain hands-on experience in astronomical research by undertaking a simple research project. To learn how astronomers analyze data, we’ll introduce basic computer programming using Python, and learn how to extract useful information from images of the sky.

At the end of this course, students should have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of astrophysics as well as exposure to Python coding in a scientific context.

*No python programming experience is necessary to apply. 

This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus as a residential program. Local students may apply to attend as a commuter.