Can you still be an astronomer if physics and maths are your two worst subjects ever..?

Question

i looked at some astronomy textbooks and they had quite complex looking calculations..im better with biology & chemistry except those subjects are soo boring but i love learning about space i think its really fascinating!!

Answer 1

I'm good at math and a starter physics person and I look at the college astronomy books and get confused. My college tutor (with a BS in math) gets confused when I try to get help for some of those relativity problems!! It takes years of practice to have a tight grip on many complex math problems!

If you open any math book up and look at the middle or end, you're likely to feel overwhelmed, but when you work through it, it won't seem as bad!!

As for being an astronomer without a physics or math centered degree, I wouldn't count on it. Unless of course you want to do ameteur astronomy which relies less on that stuff!

Answer 2

I doubled majored in astronomy and physics as an undergraduate, and while my astronomy grades were excellent, my physics grades were poor (with the exception of a few courses that I was extremely interested in). Not ALL aspects of astronomy require heavy duty math (i.e., tons of calculus, if that's what you're thinking)---I am a spectroscopist and don't do much in the way of math. Computer programs do the hard work for us these days! :) And a lot of the math in astronomy textbooks isn't that scary or complex once you understand them---they can just look a little imposing at first!

So don't get too discouraged if you're not a math and physics genius, because there's still a lot you can do in astronomy---I wasn't a math genius, but now I'm in graduate school (got accepted by three of the schools that I applied to) and I'm being paid by a NASA fellowship, so everything worked out fine for me!

Answer 3

The blunt truth is no. In fact, serious chemistry and biology also require a good grasp of physics and math.

However--these subjects--all of them--are NOT boring once you get into the meat of the subjects. Don't be put off by the way they're taught in our schools--that would bore anyone. And if you think you "aren't good" at math/physics, try to look at the subjects in a different light.

What I mean is this: math is actually a language--but a very special one that is used to describe things in a disciplined and logical way. There's nothing mysterious about it. Unfortunately (and largely because of the way the subject is taught) most students become convinced that it's a lot harder thanit is.

Here's a suggestion. Go to your public library and find Isaac Asimov's books titled "Understanding Physics." Its a three volume set--so you'll probably want to jsut tackle one at a time. It's written for people who AREN'T scientsts and not only gives you the facts, but a lot of other stuff--biographical information about physicists, etc. I think you'd come away with a lot more interest in physics/math--and a lot more confidence in your own abilities.

Good luck! :)

Answer 4

To be a professional astronomer, you need a lot of mathematics. At the very least, you need to go through the calculus sequence and do differential equations. Then, classical physics is also a necessity along with at least some relativistic physics and perhaps some quantum mechanics (depending on your specialization).

However, you CAN be an amateur astronomer and contribute in significant ways. For example, amateurs do much of the work gathering data on variable stars (google the AAVSO). Also, timing of asteroid occultations done by amateurs helps to measure the sizes of asteroids (which are often very uncertain) as well as detecting 'double asteroids' where on orbits another. Even timing when the moon goes in from of stars has value for mapping out the edge of the moon.

I would suggest going to an amateur astronomer's event, looking through various types of telescopes, and getting involved with a project.

Answer 5

Don't worry too much about mathematic and physics, we are social creature, and if you don't fare too well in math or physic, there will be others who are capable and willing to help you. You just need to look for a lot of friends who can cover your weakness and have the same passion for astronomy.

This is some calculation that you will need to understand but never need to memorize in astronomy.
http://www.geocities.com/orichalc_of_moon/Special/GPIntro.html

Don't worry about any kind of equation, even a professional mathematician cant work alone today. I have several comrades to whom I can ask questions I can't solve and vice versa. And there is also computer which can help you a lot.

Just think about where you have to position yourself as an astronomer, and good luck.

Answer 6

Astronomers have a minimum of a bachelors degree in physics, and most have a masters of PhD in physics. Which basically is a masters in math. So no, if you're bad at math and physics, you won't be an astronomer. But you're probably still in high school - try math and physics in college and see if it's still too confusing. You don't want to give up on it just yet.

Answer 7

Well an "astronomer" is kind of a vague term. There are fields in astronomy that you can get into that you won't have to know all those equations, but you won't be making the big bucks and you won't be the one discovering new stuff and figuring out how it works and what it is and how old it is etc etc, those things require you to know math.

Answer 8

fat chance, well, the subjects are not boring, might be the way you're taught in the subjects made boring. I never like physics,and suck in physics, till this teacher came into my life, hell, he made physics as easy as ABC. My physics improved a lot, is all about understanding really. If your teacher's technique doesnt work, too bad, you dont get a crap out of the subject.

Physics and maths are important for the theories and calculations behind all the bizzare yet wonderful stuffs behind astronomy like the red shift and blue shift , theory of big bang, the age of the stars....

all the best!

Answer 9

Yes you are still a astronomer even your worst subjects are Physics & Maths .As your looking very interested in astronomy that is why you are an astronomer because you are studing about it. & keep it up

Answer 10

Nope

I had a friend who did great in Math and Science in High School and he got Ds at UCLA in Astro Physics and Calculus.

You have to take lots of math and physics.