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How will I be able to apply Statistics and Data Science to Astronomy?
I'm a high school senior who will be attending University in fall. Analyzing data to predict the future has always been a fascinating concept for me, but so has Astronomy. I want to combine my interest of the two, but I'm not sure how I should go about it.
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Bruce’s Answer
Hello Abigail!
I have my own thoughts about this question but maybe this link will do a much better job (letting the astronomy professionals talk here).
https://datascienceprograms.com/learn/the-role-of-data-science-in-astronomy-and-interstellar-exploration/#:~:text=Data%20science%20algorithms%20contribute%20to,cosmic%20noise%20and%20light%20pollution.
My own thoughts are stats and DS will always be relevant. Provable, repeatable testing and modeling is invaluable in research and in business. These tools help us know where we've been, what 'happened' and build models to help us make decisions for future actions. After all, like the book title says, "If you don't know where you're going you'll probably end up somewhere else". Statistics and data science helps provide the facts for helping drive the shape of decision making.
Your interest and competence in statistics and data science will be powerful tools in your career toolkit and I wish you every success.
Best wishes Abigail.
I have my own thoughts about this question but maybe this link will do a much better job (letting the astronomy professionals talk here).
https://datascienceprograms.com/learn/the-role-of-data-science-in-astronomy-and-interstellar-exploration/#:~:text=Data%20science%20algorithms%20contribute%20to,cosmic%20noise%20and%20light%20pollution.
My own thoughts are stats and DS will always be relevant. Provable, repeatable testing and modeling is invaluable in research and in business. These tools help us know where we've been, what 'happened' and build models to help us make decisions for future actions. After all, like the book title says, "If you don't know where you're going you'll probably end up somewhere else". Statistics and data science helps provide the facts for helping drive the shape of decision making.
Your interest and competence in statistics and data science will be powerful tools in your career toolkit and I wish you every success.
Best wishes Abigail.
Updated
Carlos’s Answer
Hi Abigail,
Great question, Astronomy is now using Data Science, Machine Learning and AI to recognize patterns in the astronomy imagery and data to make new discover, a recent example is Black hole images obtained from the Event Horizon Telescope for the M87* and Sagitarius A* black holes, using Machine Learning models (like the one called "PRIMO" : Principal-component Interferometic Modeling).
Resuming this, yes, nowadays the use of Machine Learning algorithms and AI is used in many fields, including Astronomy, to detect patterns and make discoveries quicker, as such, learning Statistics and Data Science (where Machine Learning techniques are learned) are really helpful to collaborate in this field, and many other advanced techniques or specializations like Deep Learning that used neural networks are specifically helpful in Astronomy.
Hope this help!
Great question, Astronomy is now using Data Science, Machine Learning and AI to recognize patterns in the astronomy imagery and data to make new discover, a recent example is Black hole images obtained from the Event Horizon Telescope for the M87* and Sagitarius A* black holes, using Machine Learning models (like the one called "PRIMO" : Principal-component Interferometic Modeling).
Resuming this, yes, nowadays the use of Machine Learning algorithms and AI is used in many fields, including Astronomy, to detect patterns and make discoveries quicker, as such, learning Statistics and Data Science (where Machine Learning techniques are learned) are really helpful to collaborate in this field, and many other advanced techniques or specializations like Deep Learning that used neural networks are specifically helpful in Astronomy.
Hope this help!
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Astronomy with Data Science is an exciting chance to explore the universe using data from telescopes and observatories. By mixing your love for the stars with data science, you can help reveal the secrets of the cosmos. Start by learning machine learning, classification, and regression with tools like Python (Matplotlib, Seaborn), SQL, and Apache Spark to dive into big datasets. Websites like Kaggle, GitHub, and DrivenData offer real-world projects and teamwork opportunities for hands-on practice.
Dive into areas like finding exoplanets, gravitational lensing, or cosmology, while learning more about how stars form and different types of galaxies. Boost your skills with courses on Coursera, edX, and programs like Data Science for Astronomers. Join open-source projects on sites like Zooniverse, SDSS, or VizieR for real-world experience. Working on personal projects, like classifying galaxies, will strengthen your knowledge. With missions like the James Webb Space Telescope and tools like Astropy and AstroML, there are so many ways to stay ahead in new discoveries. Data science lets you be part of the scientific community, solve cosmic puzzles, and shape the future of space exploration. You’ve got this!
Dive into areas like finding exoplanets, gravitational lensing, or cosmology, while learning more about how stars form and different types of galaxies. Boost your skills with courses on Coursera, edX, and programs like Data Science for Astronomers. Join open-source projects on sites like Zooniverse, SDSS, or VizieR for real-world experience. Working on personal projects, like classifying galaxies, will strengthen your knowledge. With missions like the James Webb Space Telescope and tools like Astropy and AstroML, there are so many ways to stay ahead in new discoveries. Data science lets you be part of the scientific community, solve cosmic puzzles, and shape the future of space exploration. You’ve got this!
Updated
Corey’s Answer
You will find that modern Astronomy is all data analysis, so you don't need to "look to combine the two", Astronomy combines the two by default.