Teach yourself Astrophysics?

Question

I was wondering if there is anyway that you can teach yourself Astrophysics? I really have a deep love of the subject but can't really go back to school for it (to much student loans as it is, plus starting a family, and not enough money to go around). Is there any resources that can help me with this goal? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not looking to make a serious career out of it but a serious hobby. I would also like to become an general expert in something other than just politics, weighing what is more of an interest of mine Astrophysics is more of a deep interest (to bad I couldn't realize that before I spent many years going for political science, which I got out of early since family came along, and since the move to the Middle East) but financially I can't go for another degree since student loans from the previous attempt to get a degree (politics just got boring and tiring after awhile) but would really love to be at least some sort of expert at least on the lower level on this subject. I get inspired everytime I look at pics of the universe especially of other galaxies and that is what is motivating me to really learn this subject.

Answer 1

If you are very adept at math (and I mean higher mathematics, Calculus, LaPlace Transforms, etc) You can teach yourself easily. Otherwise, most texts that I have seen do not explain well enough the steps from A to B to C so that I could understand it clearly, I needed a teacher(s). You can get a good laypersons understanding of AstroPhysics without knowing all the finer details. Or you could strike up a pen pal relationship with someone who has a background in Physics and/or Astronomy. For instance, you can be told an accept at face value that stars fuse Hydrogen into Helium, and once the Hydrogen is in short supply, Helium, and then heavier elements are fused. Each time, the energy for fusion changes and once the star reaches Iron, it cannot make the leap in energy to fuse to the next size. Elements heavier than Iron are only created in Super Nova explosions. For proof, you need more of a math background.

Answer 2

Well, if your goal is to make a career in the field, you would have to do so through a school and earn a degree....unless you're Einstein and you had your own theory that proved everyone else incorrect!
But to make a serious go at it, you'll need to get into things like tensor calculus, quantum mechanics and general relativity.

Simply watching the Carl Sagan series "Cosmos" can give anyone a good basic understanding of all the relevent principles if you're a novice. Hawking's book "A Brief History of Time" is excellent too.

Answer 3

As long as you're not seeking a degree, you can find all kinds of resources at the www.nasa.org site. There are also many other sites. I believe that JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) has a web site with all sorts of interesting things. Your local library could be a valuable resource as well.

Answer 4

Why would you want to? Give them chance to learn about their immediate surroundings first