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How do I become an astronomer? The first thing
you need to decide is why are you interested in astronomy?
The answer to this question will decide which route
would be best for you.
Basically there are two types of astronomer - amateur
and professional.
Actor Sam Neil explores Space |
If you just want to spend your time looking through
telescopes and maybe getting involved in research, then you should
consider becoming an amateur astronomer.
But if you really want to learn how things work,
then you will need to be a professional astronomer.
The amateur astronomer
Like me, there are hundreds of people across the
world that are amateur astronomers. The word amateur means that
you do something as a hobby rather than as a job.
Take me as an example. I spend many nights in my
observatory at home taking pictures of the sky and presenting measurements
to a number of professional research programs.
Along with doing the practical side of it, I give
talks to a wide range of people, am involved with running the local
astronomical society and am the astronomer for this website.
Getting started
There are other amateur astronomers who look at
the skies with nothing more than binoculars.
A telescope like this is worth buying if you
want to be an astronomer |
You can do exactly what you want from looking through
telescopes, all the way through to studying and teaching others.
If you want to become an amateur astronomer, take
a look at the getting
started pages to get some more ideas.
More importantly, get your parents or guardian
to take you along to your local astronomical society and find out
what they get up to.
The Professional Astronomer
Professional astronomers do a similar job to some
of the advanced amateurs around the world, except they have bigger
telescopes to use!
The professional astronomers don't really look
through telescopes anymore.
Most professional observatories are computerised,
so the astronomers look at the recorded information and try to understand
the way things work.
Much of their time is spent in front of a computer
screen looking at measurements.
If you fancy doing this, then you have the makings
of a professional astronomer.
Subjects at school
At school you need to concentrate on mathematics
and physics. You need to do the same subjects
at A-Level too, with other science or computer/technology courses.
It's also useful to have other skills too. For
example, some astronomers design new instruments or write computer
programs.
If you are a whizz at computers, then astronomy
could be for you |
There are even some astronomers who know lots about
chemistry or geology which is very useful in understanding the conditions
on other planets.
After A-Level, the next step is to university and
an astrophysics degree.
After this, you can do higher level degrees and
research positions.
There are aren't many jobs for astronomers so there's
quite a lot of competition. You often don't
get paid much either!
Whichever route you take, whether you become an
amateur or professional astronomer, as long as you are enjoying
what you do then you have made the right choice.
Good luck and follow your dreams.
Find
out how to get started 禄
听
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