Modern Times

In the twentieth century, practical applications of astronomy have been utilised to establish the landing area for the first lunar landing in 1969. Stars, planets and other celestial bodies such as comets have been catalogued and properties for each have been identified. Eclipses and the appearance of comets, for example, can all be forecasted in advance and global spectators now enjoy the opportunity to capture these infrequent occurrences using digital camera, camcorders etc. All of these activities define astronomy – the study of celestial bodies outside the Earth’s atmosphere. With the increased awareness of physical bodies, has come another important interest in modern society and culture – science fiction and the possibility of life on other worlds. The lines between science fact and fiction are decreasing and even now, remote missions to Mars are in progress – something considered impossible just a century before. Science fiction is one of the most popular genres in movies, TV and literature, with alien invasion/alliances and space exploration a constant theme.

Astronomy as a hobby

Astronomy is one of the few sciences that requires no set qualification to enjoy. Anyone with a telescope and an interest in the area can participate in it and amateur astronomers are still making significant discoveries. In recent years, SETI (search for extraterrestrial life) has involved thousands of PC users worldwide – each user devoting some of their computer resources to analysing radio signals from space for patterns.

Asteroids

The impact of asteroids on the earth’s surface has had many profound effects on the history of life on our planet. It was such an impact which made dinosaurs extinct and changed the earth’s environment towards being suitable for mammals. If it were not for exploring these asteroids, it would still remain a mystery as to why dinosaurs suddenly ceased dominating the earth and human kind took over.

Climate

The subject has also greatly put impetus on studying the climate of the earth. In studying the atmospheres of other planets such as Venus, the model of the earth’s atmosphere has been substantially informed. This has thus led to a greater comprehension of climate changes in the past, present and expected changes for the future.

Asteroid impact and climate are just two of the many ways in which the study of astronomy can inform us of our own history but there still remains information pertinent to our past that astronomers believe lie in further research into celestial bodies and events outside the earth’s atmosphere.

Most Popular

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich has a 28″ refractor telescopes and public admission is available, although places must be booked in advance. It is possible to view celestial bodies during the daytime and discounts are available for season ticket holders. The Royal Observatory can provide special eyewear to allow visitors to closely examine the sun on scheduled Sundays only. Bear in mind that only bright stars and planets will be visible, a tiny fraction of the night sky. The Royal Observatory also offers a planetarium that caters for visitor of all ages, providing an interactive tour of the wonders of space.
In Herstmonceux in East Sussex, the Observatory Science Centre has six telescopes, three of these are open to the public (the largest is a 38″ reflector telescope) but all may be accessed if attending one of their Open Nights. Catering for visitors of all ages, the facility also has interactive activities, training sessions and educational classes matching the National Curriculum. They also offer outreach programmes to schools and encourage early involvement in astronomy.

Recommendation

If you seek to visit an observatory for a hands-on look at the sky then visit one of the two observatories mentioned. You can also research local astronomy societies as these clubs will allow members to use their telescopes. However, if all you want to do is experience the night sky in full interactive detail with images from telescopes and from space, then visit a local planetarium instead. Mobile solutions are also offered by several observatories in the UK and will cater for all those who want to see the wonders of the night sky.

Primary Degree

If you are about to embark upon a 3 or 4 year degree course in an astronomical area such as astrophysics, be prepared to study a vast array of modules which cover a broad spectrum of physics. Cosmology, stellar physics and solar system geology are examples of some of the more directly applicable modules on offer. Practical areas such as mathematics, observational methods and computational models are also studied in order to prepare candidates for the actual execution of research and analyses.

Post-Graduation Study

Typically, you will need some sort of a postgraduate qualification to work in a specific area of astronomy. A Master’s degree or a PHD would be the preferred courses to take in order to get employment. These courses usually take 3-4 years and include very intensive independent research on the part of the student. Unlike an undergraduate degree, there is much less supervision and an emphasis on independent study.

In order to become an astronomer, usually a person would complete a general astronomy-related degree and then a more specialized area for their postgraduate course in which they would undergo independent research. It is also worth keeping in mind that this subject necessitates tools and scientific equipment as part of research and assignments, so be prepared to factor in such supplementary costs.

Options

Some observatories also offer interactive features in additional to their telescopes and some planetariums are not involved in observation of celestial bodies in any way. They simply seek to promote awareness of the objects outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Regardless of the location type preferred, kids will always enjoy a planetarium visit. Many will offer a themed virtual trip in space, in HD quality with some similar to rides in an amusement park (with simulated movements etc.). Some even offer a themed ride from time to time – themes include Star Wars or Star Trek and could involve basic missions or even battles with alien species such as the Klingons.

Education

In order to clarify the vast distances between stars and planets, simple comparisons are made to allow kids to understand the sheer scale involved and the problems that must be overcome by technology before space travel is feasible for humans. They can hear ‘The Big Bang’, see simulations of how the universe began, or witness the life cycle of a star, and appreciate how a black hole is created or destroyed. Classes are available that match the National Curriculum and are enjoyable for all involved.
Games are provided with space themes that will also educate. By their nature, observatories are often located off the beaten track (to avoid the light pollution caused by urban areas) but planetariums are available in all areas of the UK. If a permanent physical location is not nearby then a mobile solution will be. Mobiles regularly visit schools to inform and educate students, to stimulate their interest and perhaps introduce some suitably interested students to a professional career in astronomy.

Continuing Research in an Exploratory Role

If someone has studied and stayed in education through to PhD level in astronomy, the natural route is to become a research fellow at a university or work on another privately financed research project. There are a lot of ways to secure funding that are not through a university; most popular is via the Science and Technologies Funding Council (STFC formerly PPARC). The STFC has laboratories and research facilities that it operates and these are a good source of employment for recent graduates. There is also the option to teach as part of a faculty member. For a teaching role professors or lecturers have usually undertaken a fellowship or have other proven research experience.

Astronomy Beyond Research and Education

A life of study is not for everyone and many graduates who have reached BSc or MSc level are ready to use their education. The obvious jobs in astronomy are found in planetariums and observatories. Having studied astronomy is not always a prerequisite as access to these positions can demand other skills sets. In these cases there are graduate jobs in astronomy that require little prior study in the field and may only require a proven record of study at graduate level.

There are other astronomy related jobs that have multi-discipline requirements such as scientific journalism, electronics and computing. Electronics and in particular the telecommunications industry has many openings for people with knowledge of radio astronomy. As an example there are constant threats to communication satellites that need monitoring. Some astronomers are using their skills to help produce computer generated images of lunarscapes or predicting solar flares. The list of specialist areas is endless.