A Review of the Universe is a complete website which is structured like a textbook. No author is credited for this large work which covers such topics as superclusters, clusters of galaxies, galaxies, star clusters, planetary systems, stars, Earth and the participles that comprise all of those structures.
Free Online Astronomy & Cosmology Textbooks
Astronomists study celestial objects (comets, galaxies, nebulae, planets, stars and star clusters) and other natural phenomena that original beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Astronomy focuses on the evolution, chemistry, meteorology, motion and physics of celestrial objects along with the formation and development of the universe.
Cosmologists study the origins, structures and space-time relationships of the universe and focus on its birth, growth, size, shape and destiny. The Big Bang theory is central to cosmology and brings together the fields of observational astronomy and particle physics.
While scientists may disagree with me a bit, I’ve opted to put both academic subjects under the same heading. I have little doubt that college students studying one could benefit from materials classified as belonging to the other. It also makes it easier to keep everything related to the study of the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond in one place.
Students looking for free online astronomy or free online cosmology textbooks can hopefully find some useful materials among the group of open textbooks that I’ve found. As always, if you know of any textbooks that I’ve not included, please use the contact form and let me know so that I may include them for other students to use.
List of Free Online Astronomy & Cosmology Textbooks
A Review of the Universe
Astrophysics I – Stellar and Intersteller
Professor Webster Cash of the University of Colorado is in the process of building this introductory Astrophysics textbook from his course notes and lectures. He has been adding chapters as they he completes them. Completed chapters include: Units, Radiation from Isolated Charges, Cyclotron Radiation, Bremsstrahlung and Compton Scattering. No previous astronomy knowledge is required but [...]
Basics of Radio Astronomy
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The California Institute of Technology and NASA offer what they are calling a workbook used to train students on how to use the Goldstone-Apple Valley Radio Telescope. The telescope can be used by students around the country through the Internet and in person. The workbook first explains radio frequency electromagnetic radiation [...]
Cosmic Evolution: From Big Bang to Humankind
The Wright Centre for Science Education offers a wonderfully informative multimedia website which details 12 billion years of cosmic evolution. It is based on the textbook Universe: an Evolutionary Approach to Astronomy written by Eric Chaisson. The material is presented in 8 chapters – particulate, galactic, stellar, planetary, chemical, biological, cultural and future.
Foundations of Modern Cosmology
Professor John F. Hawley of the University of Virginia, offers his own textbook for students enrolled in Astronomy 348 and UV and makes it available to all cosmology students freely online. The textbook is divided into four major sections – The History of Cosmology, Background Information on Cosmology, Relativity and The Big Bang Theory.
Teach Astronomy
Teach Astronomy by Chris Impey is a free online astronomy textbook designed to supplement classroom instruction or for self-study. Definitions and key terms are defined within the text through Javascript. A great idea to avoid repetition for fast learners but provide information for those students requiring some review of key terms.
The Star Spliiters – The High Energy Astronomy Observatories
Wallace H. Tucker is an astrophysicist known for his work in high energy astrophysics. He lectures at universities on the west coast and also spends time at the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. This online astronomy textbook traces the history of NASA’s High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO) Program. The history [...]
Welcome to the Planets
While not a traditional textbook, I’ve included this site from NASA because of its inspirational photos of the planets as well as the wealth of information included with each of the photos. Along with extensive information on the planets, there is a section on NASA’s various missions and a glossary of astronomical terms, important historical [...]