Since the 20th century there have been two main types of astronomy, observational and theoretical astronomy. Observational astronomy uses telescopes and cameras to observe or look at stars, galaxies and other astronomical objects.

Astronomy is the study of everything in the universe beyond Earth’s atmosphere. That includes objects we can see with our naked eyes, like the Sun , the Moon , the planets, and the stars . Early observers looking at the night sky noticed patterns in the stars .

Astrophysicists try to understand the universe and its contents, including stars, planets, galaxies and celestial objects, by applying the laws of physics. The terms ‘astronomer’ and ‘astrophysicist’ are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two.

Astronomers are scientists who study the universe, its objects and how it works. They aim to push the boundaries of human knowledge about how the universe works by observation and theoretical modelling.

Astronomy degrees are a combination of learning theory about the universe, and spending time actually observing the skies. Some universities will only offer astronomy as a combination with astrophysics or physics degrees and it is also possible to study astronomy as part of a joint honours course.

As it is about the physics of the whole universe and how everything in it works, astronomers need to have a good knowledge of physics and maths, and chemistry is pretty helpful too. You would need to get good grades in your GCSEs and A-levels or Highers if you want to go on and study further.

In this day and age, you can’t be considered a professional astronomer without using math all the time. It ranges from the trivial, like unit conversion (what is the velocity of a star in kilometers per second as opposed to miles per hour?), to the very advanced.

Here’s a closer look at four potential employment pathways for astronomy students.

• Academia. Many astronomers work in higher education.
• The government, observatories, and laboratories.
• The private sector.
• The public sector.

Eminent biologist E. O. Wilson, however, has good news for science lovers who are wary of higher math: You don’t have to be great at math to do great science. Far more important throughout the rest of science is the ability to form concepts, during which the researcher conjures images and processes by intuition.”

Biology is a huge, diverse field. All biologists need to have some basic, foundational understanding of chemistry, physics, math, and statistics.

Astronomy and Space Sciences

• astrobiology.
• astronomy.
• astrophysics.
• astrostatistics.
• cosmology.
• data science.
• exoplanets.
• instrumentation.

Here are the best colleges with a Astronomy Major

• Princeton University.
• Harvard University.
• Columbia University.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Yale University.
• Stanford University.
• University of Chicago.
• University of Pennsylvania.

This year’s 10 top universities for physics & astronomy

What kind of schooling is necessary for an astronomer? First you’ll go to college for four (or maybe five) years to get a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor of science (BS) in astronomy is best, but you can still get into grad school with a bachelor of arts (BA), or a degree in physics or even other fields.

Most astronomy positions require a PhD degree, which can take five or six years of graduate work.

By studying the cosmos beyond our own planet, we can understand where we came from, where we are going, and how physics works under conditions which are impossible to recreate on Earth. In astronomy, the Universe is our laboratory!

In college, major in astronomy, physics, or chemistry. There are jobs in astronomy which require only a bachelors or masters degree, but there are many fewer of those kinds of jobs than those that require doctorate degrees.

On average, a Ph. D. may take up to eight years to complete. A doctorate degree typically takes four to six years to complete—however, this timing depends on the program design, the subject area you’re studying, and the institution offering the program.

Astronomy is an outdoor nature hobby, so the best way to begin is to go out into the night and learn the starry names and patterns overhead.

1. Use the monthly naked-eye star charts in Sky & Telescope magazine.
2. Download our free Getting Started in Astronomy flyer (with bimonthly maps)

To become a space scientist, one should possess relevant education in pure science or engineering disciplines. ISRO recruit candidates with PhD in Astronomy, Physics and Mathematics along with engineers in disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, electronics and computer science.

Astronomer Astronomers

ISRO Scientist Salary 2021: In-hand Salary Per Month, Facilities After 7th Pay Commission