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Abby
Student
Otsego, Minnesota
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Astronomy?
What does the life of an astronomer look like?
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Vamshee Gunturu
Principal Engineer
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Chandler, Arizona
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Vamshee’s Answer
I can find the following link is useful to start with knowing more about Astronomer.
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/astronomer/
Should I become an Astronomer?
If you want to be an astronomer, you need to be someone with a burning curiosity about the world. You have to be quite a methodical person. You need to be able to look at large amounts of information and pick out useful patterns. You need to be imaginative to spot those patterns in the first place and be both meticulous and creative to put bits of information together in a way that makes sense. You need a capacity for reflection and contemplative study.
And you need to have great patience to spend long hours in the endeavor to reveal something new about the universe. Only then will you be successful working in a science in which you cannot weigh, touch, or smell your subject matter.
In addition to these personality traits and the technical skill set particular to the astronomy field, there are a number of generic talents that astronomers commonly possess and astronomy students need to cultivate:
Computer skills
All astronomers need to use computers for more than e-mail and internet access. Their work often entails numerical simulations of the growth of the universe, handling extremely large sets of data, or the design of next-generation instruments. It is also important to note that astronomers generally do not use Windows-based systems; they commonly rely on UNIX-like systems. Experience and skill gained in this area as an undergraduate can smooth the beginning stages of postgraduate study.
Scientific writing skills
All scientists are required to write papers and reports. Scientific writing skill is much more difficult to master than many envision. It is best acquired through practice. Therefore, reading and writing scientific reports as an undergraduate will provide crucial experience that can be applied during postgraduate study and beyond.
Public speaking skills
Astronomers must be able to orally present their findings to their peers. While some individuals have a flair for public speaking, others need to learn the skill through repeated practice and experience. The presentation of research projects during one’s undergraduate years offers several opportunities for prospective astronomers to hone their public speaking abilities.
Such presentations are invaluable to eventually becoming an accomplished scientific speaker. Additional experience can be gained by speaking at local astronomy clubs or taking advantage of outreach opportunities offered by some universities.
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/astronomer/
Should I become an Astronomer?
If you want to be an astronomer, you need to be someone with a burning curiosity about the world. You have to be quite a methodical person. You need to be able to look at large amounts of information and pick out useful patterns. You need to be imaginative to spot those patterns in the first place and be both meticulous and creative to put bits of information together in a way that makes sense. You need a capacity for reflection and contemplative study.
And you need to have great patience to spend long hours in the endeavor to reveal something new about the universe. Only then will you be successful working in a science in which you cannot weigh, touch, or smell your subject matter.
In addition to these personality traits and the technical skill set particular to the astronomy field, there are a number of generic talents that astronomers commonly possess and astronomy students need to cultivate:
Computer skills
All astronomers need to use computers for more than e-mail and internet access. Their work often entails numerical simulations of the growth of the universe, handling extremely large sets of data, or the design of next-generation instruments. It is also important to note that astronomers generally do not use Windows-based systems; they commonly rely on UNIX-like systems. Experience and skill gained in this area as an undergraduate can smooth the beginning stages of postgraduate study.
Scientific writing skills
All scientists are required to write papers and reports. Scientific writing skill is much more difficult to master than many envision. It is best acquired through practice. Therefore, reading and writing scientific reports as an undergraduate will provide crucial experience that can be applied during postgraduate study and beyond.
Public speaking skills
Astronomers must be able to orally present their findings to their peers. While some individuals have a flair for public speaking, others need to learn the skill through repeated practice and experience. The presentation of research projects during one’s undergraduate years offers several opportunities for prospective astronomers to hone their public speaking abilities.
Such presentations are invaluable to eventually becoming an accomplished scientific speaker. Additional experience can be gained by speaking at local astronomy clubs or taking advantage of outreach opportunities offered by some universities.