Astronomer Career Description
Astronomy involves far more than only looking at stars. Comets, planets and stars, as well as collections of stars such as globular clusters (up to 1 million stars) and galaxies (up to 100 million stars) are studied. Astronomy is also concerned with how and when the universe began and what will happen to it in the future.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
Astronomers research the nature, origin and evolution of astronomical objects to obtain a deeper understanding of the laws of physics. Professional astronomers are essentially physicists who use the universe as a laboratory. Because they cannot travel to the stars in order to retrieve pieces of them for analysis in their laboratory, they must use all other available information, such as radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum _ from radio waves to gamma rays; and cosmic rays - tiny particles which interact with the earth's atmosphere or magnetic field. These "messages" from outer space must now be interpreted by using their knowledge as physicists and imagination as human beings.
Information on astronomical objects is collected by detecting their signals through space-based, ground-based, optical, gammaray, X-ray and radio telescopes in conjunction with sensitive detecting devices. This data is ~nalysed, often with the aid of computers, and mterpreted in the framework of mathematical models incorporating the ideas of modern physics.
Many theoretical astronomers work normal hours and do not have to make any observations. Radio observations can be done during the day as well as at night, but many of the telescope's functions are preprogrammed and do not require the constant presence of an astronomer. Optical and infrared astronomers do the observational part of their work at night. For every week-long "observing run" at night, an astronomer will spend six to ten weeks on a normal daytime schedule analysing data and doing other work.
Observational astronomy occupies much less of the astronomer's time than analysing data.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? Astronomers must have a serious interest in Physics and Mathematics. Because they usually, but not always, work on their own, perseverance, self-direction, patience and the ability to handle disappointment are important. The ability to work in a team is also important, as are good interpersonal relations and adaptability, since astronomers are sometimes required to work with others on a specific project. An above-average mathematical ability is essential.
Where can I work?
Job opportunities are limited, but an astronomer usually considers research grants anywhere in the world. Although they are not always employed in astronomy itself, astronomers are seldom unemployed, because of their high level of training in Physics.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Although astronomers cannot earn their own money directly as an astronomer, there are some who become free-lance astronomy or general science writers, or even science-fiction writers.
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