History of Astronomy and Cosmology
History of Astronomy and Cosmology examines the development of astronomical knowledge and cosmological views from the earliest times to the present within social, philosophical, and technological contexts.
Summary
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2016: 3.16 GPA, 50.0% A/AB (n=28 letter grades); Fall 2017: 3.29 GPA, 55.2% A/AB (n=29 letter grades).
What you’ll be able to do
Discuss the history of modern astronomy, with an emphasis on tracing how our current conception of the universe has developed.
Describe the ancient background to western European astronomy, the role of astronomy in the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, the development of modern astrophysics, and Wisconsin's contributions to modern astronomy.
Engage actively and critically with primary historical sources, including Galileo’s Siderius Nuncius, through reading, writing, discussion, and examination of rare books.
Evaluate historical subjects and works in their own contexts while also appreciating their significance for our own world view.
Demonstrate some familiarity with astronomical instruments, observatories, and technologies through actual use, visits, and class demonstrations.
Source: UW Guide 1· UW Guide 2
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapNone
- None
This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- None
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
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Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
No records available.
Student experience
the class
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2016: 3.16 GPA, 50.0% A/AB (n=28 letter grades); Fall 2017: 3.29 GPA, 55.2% A/AB (n=29 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
No workload feedback recorded.
Topics
- Development of astronomical knowledge and cosmological views
- Social, philosophical, and technological contexts of astronomy
- Role of astronomy in the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries
- Wisconsin's contributions to modern astronomy
- Primary historical sources including Galileo's Siderius Nuncius
- Astronomical instruments, observatories, and technologies
Skills
- Analyze the development of astronomical knowledge and cosmological views in social, philosophical, and technological contexts.
- Describe the history of astronomy from ancient backgrounds through the scientific revolution to modern astrophysics and Wisconsin's contributions.
- Engage critically with primary historical sources like Galileo's Siderius Nuncius through reading, writing, and examining rare books.
- Evaluate historical subjects and works in their original contexts and assess their significance for contemporary world views.
- Gain familiarity with astronomical instruments, observatories, and technologies through hands-on use and visits.
Grades
Latest available · Fall 2017— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Fall 2017
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
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Catalog observation history
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Raw records
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Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
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