Since ancient times, astronomy has played a crucial role in society and culture and the introduction of the calendar was a primary example of astronomy application allowing our ancestors to know when planting season was near and to differentiate the seasons. While they did not have the impressive telescopes of modern times, early astronomers used simple observational skills to determine these patterns and possible solutions for the creation of Stonehenge and other structures may be related to the calculation of these patterns. Our early explorers navigated by the stars and this was only made possible by information on patterns and constellations identified by astronomers. Of course, the calendar is still used today and has been modified, as more accurate measurements of the Earth’s orbit were made possible by advances in technology. Continue reading
What Astronomy Tells Us About Our History
Astronomy as an academic subject has been studied since man first looked into the night sky. It is an entirely natural science that concerns itself with anything celestial – from stars and planets to galaxies and comets – anything that occurs in or constitutes matter outside of our planet is relevant to astronomers. One of the many reasons that this subject is studied is to understand the history of our planet and race. The universe remains a minefield of unexplored and unknown mysteries which may hold answers to questions long posed by mankind; how did the universe begin? Where did we come from? How did the planet develop? What is in store for the future? In studying astronomy we may get closer to these answers and better understand the fundamental principles behind human life and physics. However, there are many ways in which the study of astronomy has already gained us insight into our history. Continue reading
The UK’s Biggest Observatories
There are hundreds of land-based observatories in the UK and quite a number associated with amateur astronomers and their clubs. These are classified in several ways – according to largest telescopes, biggest dome diameter etc. Many of these are for scientific or academic use and not open to the public. In the past, the UK led the field of astronomy and the bigger observatories were the result of charitable donations from the wealthy classes. However, in today’s astronomy field, serious commercial investment is necessary and many organisations now share the resources of the largest telescopes in the world. If the UK is to recover its influence in the field of astronomy, then it needs to form alliances with other associations and invest a considerable amount of money – just to be in a position to perform advanced research. Continue reading
Studying To Be An Astronomer
Astronomy is an extremely interesting, challenging, engaging and exciting subject which requires a high degree of personal interest in order to thrive. As a natural science, the subject encompasses knowledge of most areas within biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. It is a highly technical, pragmatic, theoretical and logical subject which demands commitment and work upon its researchers. In studying to be an astronomer it is important to understand all that this requires in order to be fully prepared. Unlike some other creative subjects, astronomy is all about study and research so it is important to have some level of awareness about exactly what area of astronomy interests you in order to ascertain the best course of study for your individual goals. Continue reading
Planetarium Fun for Kids
Astronomy is not just for academics and the fact that discoveries can still be made by amateurs conclusively proves this fact. A scientific discipline with a long history, the wonders of astronomy can easily be discovered by all ages, from pensioners to kids and the extensive network available throughout the UK allows schools to introduce their students to the discoveries and ongoing research in the area. Continue reading
Graduate Jobs in Astronomy
A recent study by the Royal Astronomical Society showed that more than half of all people graduating in astronomy continued to study as physical scientists in a research role. Although thanks to its multi-disciplinary nature, jobs in astronomy and graduates in the field have a number of options. The same can be said for people who have studied physics and computer sciences who are looking for astronomy related work. Continue reading