If yes, do you have a degree or higher? What sort of things did you enjoy learning about - and finally, if you did a thesis what was it on? PS. I'm not trying to copy, I'm still in high school haha. Thanks.
2007-06-22 00:06:23 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I've won some awards from the Adler Planetarium, but have not gotten a degree or been a professional astronomer. It is a tough profession to make a living at.
2007-06-22 00:09:06 · answer #1 · answered by Steve C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have this image of an astronomer as an adventurous scientist living on a mountain top, communing with the stars and making exciting new discoveries at more or less regular intervals. That image is now getting to be 100 years out of date.
In real science today, astronomy is usually a teaching track. People with astronomy degrees have their main degree in physics or astrophysics, and teach physics and astronomy in a college or university.
The research investigators have PhDs in physics or astrophysics and may touch a telescope once every two or three years, when it's their turn to lead Visitors' Night at the campus observatory. Most astronomy oriented physics researchers spend most of their time in front of a computer.
(Just as I am now! See what I mean?)
As someone pointed out, it makes a tough career, and starvation is the biggest danger. On the other hand there are people with astronomy degrees who have technical jobs at the observatory or in the optical shop or the physics lab. Those can be rewarding, and can actually be fairly stable. You should also have a degree in computer science or other related science-support field.
If you want to have a good life and enjoy feeling close to the stars, take some college courses in astronomy while you study for a career in investment banking or whatever. Aviation worked for me. In the meantime, become an amateur astronomer, live out in the country far from neighbors with barn lights, and build your own observatory.
You can have a lot of fun that way, and amateur astronomers often make really significant discoveries, right in their own back yards. Learn how to write a scientific paper correctly.
Of course if you have the aptitude for advanced physics or astrophysics, go for it!
Good luck.
2007-06-22 09:26:45 · answer #2 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probabely yes, but they can't be bothered to answer. or they don't normally answer. or they are shy...maybe they are just too busy in space.
2007-06-22 08:44:21 · answer #3 · answered by Livvie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋