2006-10-15 08:52:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Contrary to popular belief, astronomers do very little observing. As an astrophysicist, I'll give you an insight: It's great fun at times, but incredibly difficult most of the time.
Travelling to exotic places such as Tenerife, and scaling Mount Teide to use the telescopes at the Izana observatory are fun, don't get me wrong. But here is a typical week observing (and some weeks are purely theoretical with no observing):
Total time working: about 63 hours
Observing time: about 8 hours
Time calculating and writing up: about 55hours
Of course, this depends upon what what you intend on observing, but observations have a purpose. That purpose is to work out something we do not already know, or to prove a theory. It is NOT to look at pretty things!! (although pretty pictures do come out of it!
2006-10-19 04:15:04 · answer #1 · answered by quantum_wedge 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's pretty cool. I'm getting a Ph.D. in astronomy. There's a lot of coursework to get through, and you have to know a lot of math and physics. But you get to travel all the time - out to use telescopes and go to conferences all over the world. You get to study a lot of cool stuff and meet interesting people. Email me if you have more questions: eridalus@yahoo.com .
2006-10-15 16:53:39 · answer #2 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You look at stars for a long time. I mean a long time. You stand there, and watch as Jupiter slowly turns.
However, on the plus side you discover new things and have a completely mind boggling grasp of the universe and how we relate to it.
2006-10-15 15:54:27 · answer #3 · answered by Electron Blue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satisfying to look up and know what you are looking at, and can logiclly determine what the heavens are all about. I never loose my faith in the Lord and my belief tempers my knowledge to encompass this. And to all the people that have picked my answers as best answer, they understand my knowledge and I thank them.
2006-10-18 23:52:16 · answer #4 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You realize how insignificant the earth is, compared to the vastness of space and time. Your belief in a god disappears as you realize that you're but a grain of sand in all the beaches and deserts of earth....
2006-10-18 02:36:50 · answer #5 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Astronomy solves most of the questions i have always asked my self. Where did i come from? what made the stuff of life? how did the earth form? why is there life on earth?
2006-10-19 13:36:19 · answer #6 · answered by SARSAT-BT20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love it, looking through my telescope at everything in the sky!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-16 14:51:53 · answer #7 · answered by jeff g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They always have a stiff neck.
2006-10-15 15:56:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋