Frequently Asked Questions About ...
Being an Astronomer
Students from around the United States call the National Optical
Astronomy Observatories with questions about what
it is like to be an astronomer. Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions
based on those telephone conversations with answers provided by
NOAO staff members.
In this list, we limit the subject to astronomy as a career
choice, and give answers to the following questions:
- What does an astronomer do?
- What's a typical day like for an astronomer?
- What is it like to use a telescope?
- What skills do you use as an astronomer?
- What classes should I take in high school?
- What college should I attend for astronomy?
- Do I have to major in astronomy to be an astronomer?
- What education is required? How long does it take?
- Why study astronomy?
- Are there lots of jobs for astronomers?
- How much money do astronomers make?
- Are there different kinds of jobs for astronomers?
- Are there astronomy jobs for people without a Ph.D.?
- Where can I get additional information?
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Astronomy is the study of the celestial bodies and their compositions,
motions, and origins. Most astronomers concentrate on a particular question
or area of astronomy, for example, planetary science, solar astronomy, the
origin and evolution of stars, or the formation of galaxies. Observational
astronomers design and carry out observing programs with a telescope or
spacecraft to answer a question or test the predictions of theories.
Theorists work with complex computer models of a star's interior, for
example, to understand the physical processes responsible for the star's
appearance.
Astronomy is different from most sciences in that we can't directly
interact with the object of study. That is, it is impossible to dissect,
weigh, touch, smell, or otherwise experiment with a star. For the most
part, we learn about astronomical objects indirectly by observing the light
they emit or reflect, and measuring the motions they and their celestial
neighbors exhibit. Gains in astronomical knowledge are made through
research, a systematic inquiry in which scientists define a question,
gather relevant data, formulate a hypothesis, then test the predictions of
that hypothesis.
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There is really no such thing as a typical day. Professional astronomers
hold many types of jobs, and since astronomy itself is such a multi-faceted
subject, most astronomers find it difficult to describe a typical day. But
certainly, a typical day does not include observing with a telescope. That
is a misconception, and not how most astronomer hours are spent. Much of
the time, an astronomer works at a desk, attends meetings, and works at a
computer analyzing data or computing models.
The majority of astronomers hold teaching positions at colleges and
universities, combining teaching and research. Teaching and preparing for
class consume a great deal of time for this type of astronomer and finding
time for research is sometimes difficult. NOAO is a research institution
that serves the astronomical community by providing telescopes and
instruments that can be used by any astronomer studying in the United
States. Astronomers at NOAO can spend up to 50% of their time carrying out
their own programs of research, and the remainder working to maintain and
improve the NOAO observing facilities. Astronomers here have observatory
duties such as developing new instrumentation, serving on telescope
allocation committees, and supporting archives of data from NOAO
instruments. Reviewing proposals for
NASA and
National Science Foundation (NSF)
programs and articles submitted for publication in professional
journals are also part of the daily routine.
Some astronomers would say they spend lots of time writing grant proposals,
and certainly astronomers spend a lot of time traveling to meetings and
observatories. A good way to meet an astronomer is to spend a few hours in
the Tucson airport!
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It takes hard work, long hours, and is probably the most enjoyable part of
the whole job! A solar astronomer needs to be at the telescope from sunrise
until sunset. A nighttime astronomer is just the opposite, arriving at the
telescope late in the afternoon to prepare for the night's observations and
working until dawn. A typical observing run is 4-6 days in length, during
which time the astronomer eats, sleeps, and "lives on the mountain", for
example, on Kitt Peak. Astronomers rarely look through the telescope
eyepiece anymore. These days, an electronic instrument such as a CCD
(similar to what is in a video camcorder) is mounted on the telescope and
transfers the data back to a computer monitor in a (heated) control room,
which can be in the same building as the telescope, or many miles away in a
"remote observing" situation.
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You must have good observation skills; you must be observant and capable of
making sense of what you see. Astronomers are typically good at math, very
analytical, logical, and capable of sound reasoning (about science,
anyway). Computer literacy is a necessity. While not all astronomers are
skilled computer programmers, all should be comfortable using a computer
for editing files, transferring data across networks, and analyzing their
astronomical data and images. Other valuable traits are patience and
determination for sticking to a difficult problem or theory until you've
seen it through - which can take years. The final product of scientific
research is the dissemination of the knowledge gained, so don't overlook
the importance of communication skills like effective public speaking at
professional meetings and the ability to publish well written articles in
scientific journals. As the field becomes more competitive, these
communication skills are becoming increasingly important.
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Math, science, computing. Get a broad science and math background while in
high school. That will serve you well in any science or technical career.
Don't overlook electives outside the sciences, however. You need to be as
broadly educated as possible in today's world where people commonly change
fields many times during their career. And, since communication skills are
important to astronomers, learning how to write a decent paper and make
effective presentations are valuable. Get as broad and versatile an
education as possible while concentrating in mathematics, physics, and
computing.
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There are about 100 U.S. colleges and universities that offer a Ph.D. in
astronomy and many more that offer other degrees. The
American Astronomical Society (AAS)
has a career brochure with advice on selecting an appropriate
college. (See question #14 in this FAQ for ordering information.)
When selecting a college, consider your preference for a small school
or a large university and visit the campus
before making a final decision. If there is a particular area of astronomy
you're most interested in pursuing, look for a school with professors who
publish papers in that area. Two highly respected astronomy journals are
"The Astrophysical Journal" and "Solar Physics". Look there for names of
people who publish in areas that interest you and find out where they are
now or where they went to school. Be aware that some institutions
discourage their own undergraduates from entering their graduate program,
so factor that possibility into your decision as well.
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No, many astronomers majored in physics in college. Physics can give you a
more enriched education in the physical sciences. Students with a strong
core of physics classes in addition to some astronomy research experience
are most attractive to astronomy graduate school admissions committees.
Depending on the program, this can be obtained with a degree in either
physics or astronomy. A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in physics with
lots of astronomy courses would provide more job opportunities than a B.S.
in astronomy, should you decide to terminate your formal education with a
bachelor's degree.
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In the United States, a typical astronomer has a Ph.D. in astronomy or
physics. This can take a long time - six years beyond a Bachelor of Science
(B.S.) degree is common. After earning a B.S., graduate school courses
take another two to three years. By the end of the second year, course
work should be almost complete and a thesis advisor is selected. At this
point, a "qualifying exam" is necessary for the school to determine if
students are capable of proceeding with the Ph.D. program. Specifying a
thesis topic and beginning the dissertation is next. Completing the
research, writing, and defense for a dissertation can easily take another
three years. After earning a Ph.D., it is common to take a postdoctoral
position, a temporary appointment which allows an astronomer to concentrate
on his or her own research for about two to three years. These days, most
people take a second postdoc or even a third before they are able to land a
faculty or scientific staff position.
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Solar astronomers can easily justify their object of study, since the Sun
sustains all life on earth. In addition, certain behaviors of the
Sun have a dramatic effect on our daily lives. The 11 year cycle of solar
activity includes huge solar flares and large numbers of sunspots at its
peak. This results in charged particles bombarding the earth and
interfering with telecommunications, power grids, and even the yield of
semiconductor chip production.
The night time sky is a source of beauty and wonder. You can experience
this for yourself if you have an unobstructed view of the dark night sky -
just look up! We can all marvel at pictures of galaxies, nebulae, planets,
and other celestial wonders the heavens contain, stretch our minds to
comprehend the vast distances involved, and immerse ourselves in
contemplating the meaning of it all.
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No. There is a severe shortage of jobs for astronomers and it's not
expected to get better any time soon. There are only about 6000
professional astronomers in the U.S. and many are employed in tenured
positions, resulting in very few "traditional" jobs for astronomers at
colleges, universities, and research facilities. Each year there are fewer
open positions than Ph.D.'s available to fill them, and the trend is
expected to continue. Many new Ph.D.'s find themselves looking outside the
traditional ranks for employment, a situation true in astronomy and most
physical sciences today.
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It varies some, but a typical starting salary for an assistant professor
of astronomy is $45,000 to $50,000 for 9 months. A person who took a direct
route through graduate school and then two postdoctoral appointments would
be employable at this level by age 33 or so, 16 years after graduating from
high school. Post-doctoral positions typically pay in the mid $30's and
graduate students can eke out a salary from $10K to $20K as a teaching or
research assistant. While few get rich from astronomy, most who get jobs
are financially comfortable.
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Most definitely yes, and it's a good thing considering there are so few
traditional jobs for astronomers! Ph.D. astronomers can be employed in a
variety of technical fields, since astronomy itself is so
multi-disciplinary. Many astronomers in the 1970's found themselves
employed by the defense and aerospace industries. Those radiative transfer
courses on understanding the Martian atmosphere come in handy when trying
to detect enemy tanks behind a smoke screen! But, defense and aerospace are
downsizing these days, and these alternatives are not as available as they
once were. The numerical modeling techniques used by astronomers to predict
the properties of a physical system like stars in a galaxy are the same as
those used by financial programmers on Wall Street to predict the behavior
of the stock market. Because of versatility like this, Ph.D. astronomers
continue to be well qualified to pursue careers in computing, industry, and
education.
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Yes! Examples include jobs in computing and image processing, as a science
librarian, science educator, planetarium or science museum director,
instrument designer or builder, and observing technician. At NOAO, only
about 1 in 6 staff members is an astronomer, meaning for every astronomer,
there are 5 technical support positions on the payroll such as telescope
operator, observing assistant, optical engineer, design drafting technician,
and more. Additional support positions include secretaries, electronic
technicians, and accountants; to operate an isolated observing site like Kitt
Peak we also need building maintenance staff, cooks, and drivers. The point
is, there are many ways to be employed in an astronomy environment without
a Ph.D. The majority of positions at NOAO require the use of a computer, and
every position contributes to the advancement of our knowledge in the
fascinating field of astronomy.
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The American Astronomical Society's
20-page brochure
A New Universe to Explore: Careers in Astronomy
contains advice and information about
preparing for a career in astronomy. For a hardcopy or more information, send an email to education@aas.org.
Multiple copies are available for a small charge.
The Harvard Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics (CfA) has published an
excellent brochure titled "Space for Women" that highlights the careers of
a dozen CfA women involved with astronomy. The text describes the variety
of jobs they hold and the lifestyle these jobs provide. It is a valuable
look at careers in astronomy for everyone interested in the field. To
obtain a
free copy contact Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Publications
Department, MS-28, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 01238, or call 617-495-7461.
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