Profession in Astronomy

People would think that staring at the stars and pondering the interactions of large bodies of matter would involve a life of quiet contemplation, removed from the petty day-to-day distractions of the working world. But being an astronomer involves more then just this. Astronomers track, study and review data of energy emitted from stars, movements of planetary bodies, and the interactions between these two phenomena. This highly cerebral environment requires a person attentive to detail, …

…under close supervision, aspiring astronomers can anticipate long hours, extensive number crunching, and some teaching assistantship work--the latter may entail grading undergraduate papers and tests. Once they receive their doctorates, competition among Ph.D.s for positions is intense. Astronomers who leave go into a variety of professions where their science training can be put to use. Refugees from astronomy enter physics, astrophysics, computer science, high-altitude physics research programs, and space exploration programs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**