Careers in Astronomy

Careers in Astronomy

Sometimes when we picture an astronomer, the image of a man huddled in a cold, dark observatory peeping through a large telescope at the stars comes to mind. That might have been a fairly accurate image a half century ago, but that really is no longer the case. Today, astronomers work mostly at analyzing data that has been gathered by computers. They work in well-lit, climate-controlled rooms with a coffee maker and a plate of donuts at hand.

Careers in astronomy are many and varied, but all of them require a strong background in math and science. Those with liberal arts degrees probably won't get very far. The majority of astronomers (about 55%) are affiliated with colleges and universities in some way. Either they are professors, or they are affiliated with a college or university through an observatory or a laboratory.

Astronomers who are professors at universities and colleges are first and foremost teachers, but they usually spend some time on research. They work hard to get grants that will pay for their research. A PhD is required for all of these positions. Usually professors who are astronomers are employed through the physics department of colleges and universities.

About a third (33%) of all astronomers are employed by the federal government, and another 10% are employed by private industry. The rest are self-employed.

PhD's are not required to teach physics and earth sciences in high schools. A Bachelor or Master degree is usually sufficient.

When a young person decides to pursue a career as an astronomer, they need to concentrate their studies in the math and science field. A bachelor's degree in physics with an astrophysics option is the place to start. This should be followed by obtaining a master's degree in physics and then a doctorate in astronomy. The educational road for astronomers is long and hard, but the rewards are many.