Navigate the galaxies for a career in astronomy

As an educator, you have the extraordinary power to shape and guide the future of students. Young minds are often fascinated by astronomy; a field that offers a universe of possibilities. Introduce your students to the wonderful night sky, faraway galaxies, and life outside earth with our 360 degree career video on astronomy. An immersive tour into the captivating realm of astronomy is not only fascinating, it can provide children with an exceptional opportunity to explore astronomy as a career.

How do 360° career videos benefit learners?

Live future careers: The career video allows learners to experience the job of an astronomer first-hand. It gives a realistic view into the life of an astronomer, what their day looks like and the kind of tasks the job involves.

Real-world experiences: Career discovery becomes so much more meaningful and real with detailed 360-degree career videos offering a virtual tour of workplaces and jobs like never before.

Curated video library: Curated by experts and professionals, the videos offer a bird's eye view of the profession.

Flexible and convenient: Learn from anywhere and at your own pace.

Inspire and motivate: Through a comprehensive and immersive journey into the field, learners get the right motivation and inspiration to take up astronomy as a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Who is an astronomer?

An astronomer is someone who studies the universe, as in the physical and chemical properties of anything that is outside of the earth’s atmosphere. They study the evolution of stars and different planets to understand how they were created and what will happen as they age. Back in the day, astronomers used to observe the night sky to make predictions about celestial phenomena and study what is outside the earth’s atmosphere. Some notable names in the field of astronomy are Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, and Charles Messier, among many others.

Before diving deep into who an astronomer is and how to be an astronomer, it is important to understand the subject that is astronomy. What is it? Well, astronomy is the study of the uncountable things that exist in the universe like stars, planets, galaxies, and the solar system, generally known as celestial bodies. Astronomy is amongst the oldest branches of science. It integrates the knowledge of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Modern day astronomy has two distinct divisions, theoretical astronomy and observational astronomy.

Theoretical astronomy: In this field of astronomy, several astronomical phenomenons and positions of celestial or cosmic objects are explained using different analytical methods.

Observational astronomy: All the possible data related to the universe that can be observed is collected. Usually, a group of astronomers work together to observe objects such as stars, other galaxies, black holes, etc.

Fields within astronomy

Astronomy is divided into different fields. Examples of specialties in astronomy are solar astronomy, planetary astronomy, extra-galactic astronomy, stellar, and cosmology. Astronomers usually choose to focus on one of these fields.

Each field branches into either an observational or theoretical type of study. Each of the branches are different yet complement one another, with theoretical astronomy being used to explain observational results and observational astronomy confirming the results obtained through theoretical analysis and computer modelling.

Astronomy can also be divided according to its links with other fields of science. Astronomy can apply physics, biology, and geology to explain the origin and evolution of space, stars, and celestial bodies. Those four sub fields are astrophysics, astrometry, astrogeology, and astrobiology.

Roles and responsibilities of an astronomer

Astronomers spend most of their time analyzing data, working on research papers, and creating computer programs that allow a more effective analysis of the data being collected from satellites.

Some of the other roles and responsibilities of an astronomer are:

Conduct deep research on different celestial bodies

Study the nature of energy and matter in the universe

Analyze the collected data

Participate in various seminars, conferences, and meetings

Perform complex calculations and analyze data using computer programs

Describe observations and conclusions in mathematical terms

Develop theories based on observations

Write scientific reports and journals to present findings and observations

Being an astronomer

Job opportunities

Depending on your preference, you can either choose to work in the field or choose the academic route to educate others. Some of the opportunities that you can consider are:

You can work at an observatory

Observatories will offer you an opportunity to interact with the public in the role of a resident astronomer. The job generally entails curating astronomy exhibits and writing books or papers on specific areas in astronomy.

You can apply for positions in the aerospace or computer science industry

These positions offer the option to work in an area other than academia. This may be an ideal role for you if you prefer to work directly with other astronomers and scientists.

You can work at a space agency

Working for a space agency will allow you to collaborate with other scientists and astronomers on the study of the universe and various known and unknown elements of space.

You can teach others about space

No, astronomers don’t just work at NASA. If you aspire to become an astronomer, a career goal could be to work at NASA, but there are various other roles that you can experience as an astronomer, depending on your field. If you want to teach, a typical classroom setting would be common. Often, you would also be invited to give talks and conduct seminars at different institutions.

You can research big questions about the universe

Working in an office usually involves doing administrative work or research work. Research could involve calibrating and analyzing data, running numerical models, or testing out different theories. Much time is spent in front of a computer, therefore familiarity with computers and programming is a necessity if you’re considering this career. Astronomers also spend a lot of their time reading new subjects and writing research papers and might also have to travel several times for meetings and conferences.

Pros & cons of being an astronomer

Like almost every other career path, the field of astronomy also has its own set of benefits and challenges. Let’s discuss some of them:

Pros

You get a chance to discover new planets, solar systems, and life forms that are not yet known

You get to study the wonders of the universe and observe celestial objects that exist beyond our knowledge

Once your research paper on a particular topic gets published in a technical journal, it will be there as a resource for years to come and can be used by many people for reference and study

You will often get to learn something new and interesting

Cons

There is a lot of studying and formal education needed to be an astronomer

Despite your best efforts, you may not discover something new to contribute

You have to work alone for long hours, which can get monotonous at times

A curious mind may have immense potential to be an astronomer. Exposing them to the right information at the right age can make a world of difference. Take learners on an immersive 360-degree career journey into the captivating field of astronomy. Through these videos, students can witness the wonders of the universe, explore cutting-edge research, and gain insights into unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Join us on this cosmic adventure and ignite the passion for astronomy in your students.

Empower learners to reach for the stars, explore the unknown, and contribute to the vast tapestry of human knowledge that lies beyond the earth's atmosphere.

career

Navigate the galaxies for a career in astronomy