jobs about stars

What exactly is an astronomer?

When you gaze up at night, the stars seem like beautiful glittering lights. An astronomer is fascinated by the beauty of the stars and other celestial objects and wants to learn more about them. An astronomer is a scientist who studies and interprets the Universe beyond Earth and the Universe inside the Earth. Astronomers use observational techniques such as space and ground-based observatories, computers, and plain old paper and pencil to piece together a picture of not just what the Universe is like now, but what it was like billions of years ago, all the way back to the "Big Bang." To do this, astronomers must understand the behavior of matter under situations that do not exist on Earth, such as high temperatures or exotic substances and particles. To piece together what occurs beyond our globe, they must employ whatever sort of light, from radio to gamma rays, and particles (from cosmic rays to neutrinos) reach it to Earth, as well as advanced computers. Observational astronomers may seek new planets, study stars, galaxies, black holes, and other phenomena, or attempt to map the whole sky. More theoretical researchers may monitor magnetic fields or mimic the structural build-up of stars to find out how galaxies began and how the Universe expanded. To summarize, they construct models of the Universe based on basic physics and strive to make them intelligible.

What qualifications do you need to be an astronomer?

Astronomy is a difficult subject. That is why potential astronomers must be curious and motivated to learn and comprehend more and more. They attempt to answer problems such as, "How did the stars and planets form?" Why does the night sky seem as it does? How did the Universe come to be, and when will it come to an end? Astronomers must use rigorous reasoning in conjunction with leaps of intuition to attempt to address these problems. A solid foundation in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science is necessary for a contemporary astronomer, which includes a scientific high school curriculum, a university degree in physics, math, or engineering, and a PhD in astronomy or astrophysics.

What is an astronomer's professional path?

Astronomers often spend three to six years in one or more postdoctoral posts at universities or research centers after receiving their PhD. Following that, astronomers seek stable work as researchers or group leaders at a university department, national institution, or government research center. Astronomers eventually get university tenure, which is a permanent post in which they typically work for the remainder of their careers. Astronomy is a minor yet popular discipline. Only individuals with a good education, talent, and a genuine interest in the topic are likely to secure lasting employment. However, training as an astronomer may lead to opportunities in a variety of related sectors such as other research areas, industry research, commercial or industrial companies, teaching, public relations, and outreach.

Things to consider while preparing for a career in astronomy

Make sure you have strong communication abilities. Throughout your academic career, you will be required to produce multiple research publications. You may also be required to prepare funding bids and proposals for observation time at other observatories. Remember that, as with other scientific fields today, astronomy necessitates participation in worldwide partnerships, thus excellent English communication skills are required. Remember that many astronomers work as university lecturers and professors, therefore teaching abilities and understanding how to communicate with students are essential. Be prepared to spend long nights in observatories and travel extensively for conferences, meetings, and observation runs, especially early on. If you are sufficiently driven, all of your training will seem valuable when you begin to unveil the mysteries of the Universe in your career as an astronomer.