Career questions tagged astronomy
Experience/Achievements for the aviation field?
I'm a 7th grader who hopes to pursue a career in aerospace and eventually become an astronaut. Currently I'm building my portfolio to get a scholarship that can boost my career. Looking at the backgrounds of people who eventually become astronauts, what experiences or achievements seem to matter much more than students realize, and which ones matter less?
If I have many options in mind to study,what can I do to choose the best one?
I am in grade 8, some of my options are medicine, bussiness,biology,chemistry,space things ect.
How difficult is it to become an astrophysicists, and is it worth it?
On average, how much schooling is required for this profession? If one were to graduate with a bachelor’s in physics, is there a specific degree for astronomy to pursue when going to grad school? Is the field in demand nowadays? While I have a passion for the field and that’s the reason why I plan on pursuing it, I also understand that i’ll likely go into some debt. Does an astrophysicist job pay well enough to get said debt paid off somewhat quickly?
Should I pursue Computer Science, Physics, or Architecture if my goal is to become an astronomer but job prospects are limited in my country?
I am a freshman student in Ethiopia currently facing a difficult decision regarding my major. I am writing to seek advice from professionals who might have experience in these fields or in navigating career paths in developing regions. Currently, I am enrolled in Computer Science, but I am considering switching to either Physics or Architecture. My lifelong dream is to become an astronomer. However, in Ethiopia, pursuing a Physics degree to enter astronomy is often seen as an impractical path, as most graduates end up in teaching roles rather than research. Because of this, I considered Architecture as a more "practical" second choice. However, I have realized that an Architecture degree would not allow me to pursue a Master’s in Astronomy or Physics later on. On the other hand, I have learned that a degree in Computer Science would still allow me to pivot into Astronomy for my Master’s. I am torn between my passion and the practical reality of the job market in my country. Should I stick with Computer Science as a bridge to my dream, risk a Physics degree, or choose Architecture for stability even if it means leaving astronomy behind? I would appreciate any insights or opinions you can share. Thank you for your time and help. *Note: Question asked anonymously by a learner
What are some jobs that an astronomer could work for besides NASA? I understand that is a competitive and challenging field. Are there more accessible areas of work that I could aim for?
I am a sophomore in high school, obviously still young, but I want to look at my future options sooner rather than later.
I want a career in an area that involves space-related physics. What kinds of jobs are available besides a general astrophysicist or astronomer?
I want to be in a field that is physics dominated, but I am not entirely interested in common fields like engineering.
I want to become an astronomer. What kinds of high school courses would look good to a college, and what do future jobs look at when hiring?
I am 16 years old, and I love anything to do with space and physics. I really want a career in the area.
Should I drop AP Physics C as a junior 2nd semester?
I am a junior in my 2nd semester of high school. I took a course load of 5 APs and over the summer my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I’ve had a hard time managing my life and honestly am very mentally overwhelmed. I have taken AP Physics C and second semester I am on track for a D or F with only 4 tests remaining. I have not been able to manage all of my AP’s. I am worried if I drop the class colleges will look at me negatively and if I stay my grade will be very bad. My gpa currently is a 3.8 and last semester I got a C in the class because of the same reason. I would like to major in astronomy or aerospace engineering. Please provide your suggestions for my next steps. I would like to be able to apply to T20 colleges and my top college is Embry Riddle. Will I be able to get in if I get a bad grade or I drop based on my circumstances? Thank you!
What would be the best job shadow to do if you are interested in math and science?
Hi! I'm lilly, and my school is hinting at us getting our job shadows done by the end of January, but they are not due until the end of my senior year. (I am a junior at the moment.) I was wondering what the most beneficial shadow would be, as I'm interested in math (nuclear, astronomy, and maybe coding and engineering.) What kind of job should I look for?
What is the best choice of major/ career for me? (math and physics based)
I am a 16 year old high school junior (and am planning on going to college) and I have always been interested in fields like nuclear science and astronomy. I am open, and not restricting myself to the fields above, since I do not know exactly what would be the best path for me. -I really want to do a position including math (any type works, as long as this is a great part of the job.) -My school is on the smaller side, so I have not had really any experience with coding or engineering (I want to know how big of an undertaking a job like the ones above will be knowing I have basically no understanding) -I have not been able to take a physics class, but it does intrigue me, and I would like to maybe have this be a core part of my job as well (trying to figure out as well how much of a problem this would be) -I have never really been drawn to jobs in the medical, financial or teaching world. -I want to have a job that is transferable- it's not so incredibly specialized that I cannot get a job anywhere.
What high school path should I take if I plan to pursue a career in astronomy? 'Tis the season I start to decide what high school classes I want to take. (lol.) I am in Earth Science already and plan to take Biology in my freshman year. If anyone has any tips that would be helpful, that would be great! thanks!
If you are an astronomer, advice would be much appreciated!
How can I find a path that will allow me to get degrees in both astronomy/astrophysics and mechanical/aerospace engineering?
Would I be able to get both degrees at the same time? What careers would I be able to pursue with those degrees? I'm thinking about becoming a Formula 1 engineer or working for NASA.
My class is exploring Careers on virtual Reality, I’m trying to figure out what career a should choose, any ideas?
I am a 7th grade Middle school student in Yuma Arizona. I have many suggestions but I don’t know currently which one is the best. Ever since I was in second grade I was interested in science and astronomy and I wanted to be an astronomer, but now I’m getting thinking maybe I should pursue my other interest such as aerospace engineering. I want to build/ develop the spacecrafts sent on missions. I love the idea of both of them. If you have any suggestions please answer my question and state why. Thank you and have a wonderful day!
What classes should I choose for future electives?
I am in 7th grade and I’m starting to question what classes I choose for the future grades I want to make video games and create all this stuff. But I also want to study black holes and astronomy. I am still young so I have some time to choose, but I would love help. So what classes should I choose for future electives?
How Big Is Astronomy in South Africa Really?
Hi, I'm Masego, an 11th grade learner at Mabothe Secondary High School, and I'm super interested in astronomy. I've always been fascinated by science, and I think it all started when I watched documentaries on the Da Vinci channel about famous scientists like Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Einstein, and Isaac Newton. There's something about those stars that truly draws me in - I find the universe mysterious and cool! I'm curious about pursuing a career in astronomy in South Africa. How big of a field is astronomy in South Africa, and would it be challenging to find job opportunities? I've heard some students say they can't find jobs in the field. Are there many organizations or institutions in SA that focus on astronomy, and what kind of roles are available? I'd love to hear from you all in the science field about your experiences and advice.
What are my career options if I would like to work in a planetarium?
I currently work in a planetarium while pursuing my undergrad in Physics and I would love to continue on this path. #Spring25
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.
What jobs would be recommended for someone wanting to pursue Astrogeology, but is worried about long-term job security?
My dream has always been to do some kind of Astrogeology and study incoming samples from space. Seeing as we are in uncertain times for space research, are there any jobs outside of working for Musk that anyone would recommend that seem to have a secure place in the industry? I want to change my major and follow my passion but I worry I will be unable to find a job after graduating. Thank you #Spring25
How should a person decide what subfield to specialize in if there are so many appealing choices?
I am a rising college freshman majoring in physics, with career aspirations of becoming an astrophysicist. But the term "astrophysicist" is so broad, and there are too many specializations to count (heliophysics, exoplanetology, planetary science, cosmology, galactic evolution, and astrobiology, to name a few). Because I consider myself an indecisive person, I can see myself having trouble narrowing down a topic that I want to dedicate years of my life to. So, when it comes time to choose a specialty for master's and PhD theses, what's the best approach to go about it?
what does a day in the like of a graduate physics student look like?
I am curious what a future of looking for graduate school is like.
How should I start my passion project if I want to pursue CS major in college?
I am a 16 year old Tibetan refuge living in India and currently in 11 grade. I am also interested in astronomy and a beginner in coding.
How do I get started with getting into Astronomy or Programming?
What should I do to get started on learning about Programming or Astronomy? what schools should I look into? what should I do beforehand to set me up for success?
What university is best to major in an astronomy-related field?
Somewhere in eastern USA or even better in California
What is a day in the life of an astronomer like? What are the struggles of becoming an astronomer?
I enjoy looking at the stars and have considered going into the physics field. I feel like as a person who loves studying space maybe an astronomer would be a good job. What is a day in the life of an astronomer like and what struggles will it take to become one?
How do I know what I want to do with my future?
Hi! I'm a high school junior with a deep love for sciences (namely chemistry, astronomy, biology), music, and art. Graduation is creeping up on me and I need to get my ducks in a row with where I'll go after high school. I'm fairly certain that I'll meet any academic requirement for college applications (I have a 3.97 unweighted / 100.79 weighted gpa) but I'm torn in about 2,000 different pieces. I can't pinpoint what I want to major in/what career I want to pursue. On one hand, I love chemistry and I plan to take AP chemistry my senior year, so maybe it'd be good for me to pursue a chemistry-related field. But on another hand, I love music, I love band, maybe I should pursue a career in music? There's about a thousand different things I love, things I'm interested in, and things I'm good at. I extend my biggest thanks to anyone who can help me out here or can give a little guidance to others who are as indecisive as I am 🫶
What can I do as a sophomore high schooler to show my interest in and gain experience in astrophysics?
Such as extracurriculars, competitions, clubs, activities I should do?
Is there any free online career counselling websites??
I finished bsc mathematics and but I'm confused about what I do next. I'm interested in subjects like space, history, statistics, computer programming and I also like music and acting. I'm also like solving maths problems. But, I also want to become an entrepreneur and I always think about different business ideas.... I'm really confused about what my real passion and what I want to do or what I'm good at.. what should I do? Is there any free online career counselling websites?
How can I calculate the luminosity of the wolf-rayet star Regor (Gama velorum) if i'm using the inverse square law but need the luminosity of this star in watts. How can I convert this value of its luminosity, (170,000 L☉) to watts I've been trying to figure out how to calculate this in order to convert it into my equation of b= L / (4pi d^2) if b= apparent brightness L= luminosity of star (in watts) d= distance to the star (in meters) Please let me know, thank you!?
Please guide me of how to convert this correctly and properly address the answer and how to get it.