Programs in astronomy teach people about planets, galaxies, and outer space. Students learn about the position, motion, and composition of celestial bodies and events. They also learn to apply physics and mathematics to understand the universe and its properties.
Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. About 5,000 years ago, the Babylonians made observations about most of the planets in our solar system. They asked the same questions we ask today: How did our solar system form? What is the age of the universe? When will the next asteroid or comet pass near Earth?
Although observation is crucial to the study of astronomy, you do not spend all your time gazing at the stars through a telescope. Actually, you spend much more time gazing at a computer screen, analyzing data and developing theoretical models. You use satellites to collect information from the outer limits of space. In some cases, you may need to design your own satellite or other instrument. Training in electronics helps you to do this.
In your studies, you learn to use physics, math, and computer science to measure the properties of cosmic bodies and events such as location, distribution, and size. You gain an understanding of orbits or how things move around in space. You also learn to describe and analyze relationships between celestial bodies.
Although much of what you do is theoretical, there are some practical applications that come from the study of astronomy. Astronomers help make advances in satellite communication, space travel, and navigational systems. With training in this program, you can make important discoveries that can further our scientific knowledge and prove or disprove existing theories about the origin of the universe.
About 90 colleges in the U.S. offer a bachelor's degree in astronomy. This takes four years of full-time study beyond high school. A bachelor's degree may prepare you for an entry-level position as a technician. Majoring in physics is also a good preparation for graduate studies in astronomy.
Most jobs in astronomy require a master's or Ph.D. degree. A master's degree takes about six years beyond high school to complete. It may lead you to a job in a planetarium, or as technical support at an observatory or planetary institute. A Ph.D. in astronomy may take eight to ten years beyond high school. About 50 universities offer a master's degree, and about 45 offer the doctoral degree.
Most graduate students choose to concentrate in a particular area of interest within the study of astronomy. If you plan to do research in observational astronomy, you need to have training in electronics or electrical engineering. If you plan to do more theoretical work, then a concentration in mathematics or computer science is helpful.