Version 1 and 2: Instruction is offered online through video lectures, study guides, required and supplemental readings, quizzes, homework, and final exams. Major topics include: basic concepts of finite light travel time, cosmic distance scales, overview of the cosmic history, pre-Socratic philosophers, world models, Aristotle Universe, Ptolemy’s Epicycles, elliptical orbits, Kepler’s Laws, semi-major axis and period of orbit, equal areas law, Newton’s Laws, concepts of calculus, effects of gravity, tides, the solar system, planets, planet’s composition, inner planets, and outplanets, atmosphere of Mars, ancient Martian landscape, space exploration, nearest stars, Europa’s oceans, Jupiter’s moons, telescopes, refractors, reflectors, the electromagnetic spectrum, telescopes in space and on the ground, colors, wavelength, frequency, speed of light, refraction, emission lines, absorption lines, spectra of stars black body radiation, structure of the Sun, pp-chain, nuclear fusion, star formation, nuclear fission, neutron stars, black holes, supernovae, hr-diagram, stellar population’s cepheids, distances, nebulae, galaxies, the Milky Way, galaxy evolution, mergers, stellar ages in galaxies, star formation in galaxies, basics of theory of special and general relativity, reference frames, spacetime, Lorentz transformations, black holes, curvature, Holbers’ paradox, Hubble’s Law, redshift, static vs. expanding Universe clash, distant quasars, supermassive black-holes, AGN, Hubble time, and M-sigma relation, energy density pie chart, dark matter, structure formation, dark energy, SN Ia as standard candles, accelerated expansion, The Big Bang Theory, primordial universe composition, CMB, temperature of the Universe, Plank’s Time, and recombination.