What is Astronomy?

Summary: 

• Astronomy is the study of phenomena beyond Earth, including other planets, galaxies, and the entire universe.
• Advancements in astronomy have improved technologies and innovations in other areas, like imaging, GPS, and communications.
• The two main types of astronomy are observational and theoretical. 
• An astronomy career path requires strong math and physics skills.
• Skills in computer science will also help aspiring astronomers break into the field.
• To work in research or academia, one will need to pursue a Ph.D.
• Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences in history, dramatically influencing culture and navigation.

Understanding Astronomy

The universe is roughly 13.8 billion years old, and yet it still has secrets. Astronomy pulls back the curtain, seeking answers to the biggest mysteries of existence. But what actually is astronomy? Let's explore one of the oldest sciences and learn how astronomers seek to answer questions as old as time.

So, what is astronomy? This awe-inspiring discipline is the study of objects and phenomena outside Earth. The field encompasses everything beyond Earth's atmosphere, including other planets, the sun, and other celestial bodies in the solar system we call home. Astronomers also study stars, nebulae, and galaxies, reaching to the edge of existence.

Astronomers work to address the most profound questions of all time, such as the origin of the universe and its evolution to its current state. They study striking phenomena such as supernovas, black holes, comets, asteroids, and cosmic background radiation. By investigating cosmic forces, the study of astronomy reveals truths about the laws of physics and the nature of the universe. Astronomers achieve this by measuring properties such as distance, motion, brightness, temperature, and chemical composition to understand how these objects work.

But why study such far-reaching phenomena? First, it creates a sense of perspective on how small planet Earth really is, and how special it is that our world has the perfect conditions to sustain life. Advancing the field might inspire the next generation and deepen environmental awareness. Afterall, other planets have their own weather and climate patterns. For instance, Venus has a severe greenhouse effect, while Mars experienced global cooling billions of years ago.

Moreover, the field fosters innovation across other sciences. In the quest to learn more about the universe, scientists have progressed optics, imaging, and computing. These accomplishments contributed to technologies that we see everywhere, such as medical imaging, digital cameras, and high-speed electronics.

The hardware used for observing space is also used in satellites that support GPS, weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and communications. Advancing astronomy hits closer to home than you might think.

Types of Astronomy

The field of astronomy branches into several subfields. However, there are two main types of astronomy: observational and theoretical.

On the one hand, observational astronomy focuses on surveying objects and collecting data with telescopes and other specialized tools. Meanwhile, theoretical astronomy leverages data gathered from observations. It involves building simulations, forecasting future events, and explaining occurrences.

Some types of astronomy break down by subject matter. For instance, cosmology is the study of the universe as a whole. Applied astronomy, alternatively, focuses on solving practical problems in everyday life, such as the development of GPS. Another subject is planetary science, which focuses specifically on planets.

Some subjects clearly overlap with other scientific branches, including:

• Astrobiology: the study of the origin, evolution, distributions, and future of life in the universe.
• Astrophysics: the application of physics and chemistry to our knowledge of astronomical phenomena.
• Astroinformatics: the use of data science and machine learning to analyze large astronomical datasets.

While we're on the topic of astronomy subtypes, it's important to note that astrology is not a type of astronomy. Astronomy is a legitimate field of study, while astrology is a belief system that holds that the positions of the stars influence human affairs.

Careers in Astronomy

To embark on an astronomy career path, a dedicated student needs strong math and physics skills. Given recent advancements in computational tools for astronomy, a learner should also consider pursuing CIS and computer science courses and experience. The aspiring astronomer will need an undergraduate degree in astronomy or a closely related field, such as astrophysics. 

During college, it's valuable to pursue hands-on experience at planetariums or observatories. If the end goal is a career in research or academia, a Ph.D. is usually required.

Careers in astronomy are diverse, stemming far beyond NASA, universities, and research institutions. Astronomers can work for museums and planetariums, helping inspire the next generation of astronomers.

One emerging astronomy career path involves using new technologies like multi-messenger astrophysics, combining light, neutrinos, gravitational waves, and cosmic rays to create more comprehensive pictures that tell more advanced stories. Theoretical and observational careers in astronomy today focus on studying the behavior of dark matter and analyzing gravitational-wave data.

Historical Significance

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences, with a history that stretches back over about 4,000 years. The first astronomers used the naked eye in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and Mesoamerica to track and record changes in the sky, developing calendars, timing agriculture, and practicing religion.

Greek thinkers like Ptolemy and Aristotle put forth the geocentric model, which dominated Western astronomy for 1000 years. But in 1543, Copernicus turned the study on its head, paving the way for modern astronomy by introducing the heliocentric model.

The field continued to advance through the 1600s, with Galileo Galilei's improvement of the telescope and Johannes Kepler's laws of planetary motion pushing our understanding of our solar system to new lengths. At the end of the 17th century, Isaac Newton showed that the laws of motion and universal gravitation apply to falling apples and orbiting planets. The discovery laid the groundwork for classical mechanics, showing that physics and astronomy were fundamentally linked. 

In the 19th and 20th centuries, photography and spectroscopy cleared the way for astrophysics. Einstein's theory of relativity and Hubble's discovery of galaxies far beyond the Milky Way further cemented a sturdy foundation for contemporary astronomy. Today, astronomers use a range of wavelengths of light to study exoplanets, dark matter, and dark energy. 

Astronomy has profoundly impacted human life, from culture to technology. Since the dawn of humanity, we Earthlings have turned to the stars and high heavens, aligning feats of architecture with celestial events and worshipping stellar bodies. Sailors used the sky objects above them as compasses, aiding careful navigation during the Age of Exploration. Today, the field is responsible for satellite communications, continued space exploration, and pushing for a deeper understanding of cosmic structure and our place in it.

Ready to bring the fundamentals of Astronomy to your classroom? Check out our Intro to Astronomy dual enrollment course.