The blooming universe

From planets to black holes, a 10-lesson journey led by researchers from the Observatory. Registration is now open for the live streams, which start every Monday.

A fascinating journey from the Solar System to the far reaches of time and space: it’s back The blooming universe, the astronomy course organised by the’INAF – Brera Astronomical Observatory.

Comprising 10 online sessions, the series of lectures aims to explore the past, present and future of astrophysics in simple, accessible language. Designed for those who already have a basic scientific grounding (at A-level), the course will enable participants to understand the great mysteries and discoveries of the cosmos directly from the researchers themselves.

The Course Programme

The meetings will take place Every Monday, until 14 December, from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm, streamed live on YouTube.

• 5 October: Introduction to Astronomy - Ilaria Arosio
• 12 October: Solar system: origin and characteristics - Mario Carpino
• 19 October: Extrasolar planets: new possible worlds - Mario Carpino
• 26 October: Stellar evolution - Ilaria Arosio
• 2 November: Stellar wreckage: the biggest explosions in the universe – Gabriele Ghisellini
• 9 November: Black holes: the fatal attraction of gravity – Gabriele Ghisellini
• 16 November: In the realm of galaxies - Sabrina De Grandi
• 23 November: The giants of the cosmos: galaxy clusters - Sabrina De Grandi
• 30 November: The Standard Cosmological Model and the Enigma of Expansion - Sabrina De Grandi
• 14 December: Christmas Lecture (Topic to be confirmed)

Participants with a Gmail account will be able to interact by asking the speakers questions live at the end of each session. For those who are unable to watch the live streams, the recordings will remain accessible in the members’ area for the entire duration of the course and in the months that follow. In addition, a digital handbook providing further detail on the key concepts covered will be provided.

The Teachers

The students will be guided by experts and astrophysicists from the Observatory:

• Ilaria Arosio: specialising in star formation in galaxies and science communication.
• Mario Carpino: an expert in the orbital motion of satellites and minor bodies in the Solar System.
• Sabrina De Grandi: a researcher into the properties of the local universe, groups and clusters of galaxies.
• Gabriele Ghisellini: an expert in high-energy astrophysics, black holes and gamma-ray bursts.

Useful Information and How to Take Part

The course has a limited intake of up to 100 participants. At the end of the course, those who complete a final questionnaire will be issued with a certificate of attendance.

Costs and concessions:

• Standard fee: 70 €
• Reduced Museum Subscription: 50 €
• Concessionary ticket for under-30s: 30 €

For further information, please contact the INAF-Brera Astronomical Observatory at the following email address [email protected].