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A New Universe to Explore: Careers in Astronomy
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Introduction
"A professional research astronomer does not merely appreciate the beauty
and wonder of the objects in the sky. This is the daily challenge -
to come to some sort of understanding of the basic underlying physics
that gave rise to the universe and the objects in it. It is this
challenge and the satisfaction gained by solving these puzzles that
drew me to astronomy."
— Tereasa Brainerd, California Institute of Technology. Primary
research of interest: the origin and evolution of structure in the
universe. |
A New Universe to Discover
When astronomer James Scotti was asked to photograph a newly discovered comet with the University
of Arizona's 36-inch telescope, he was not prepared for the image that appeared on his computer screen.
What he saw was not one comet but a chain of comets that looked like a string of pearls. "I was struck by
the unique appearance of a train of individual [comet] nuclei all lined up in a row," Said Dr. Scotti. "I had
never before seen such a unique image in a comet." In fact, nothing like it had been seen by other
astronomers either. The pearls were the remnant of a comet that had come too close to Jupiter and
broke into at least 21 fragments. Even more extraordinary, 18 months later these comet fragments,
known collectively as Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, would collide with Jupiter, providing astronomers
the opportunity to study such an event for the first time!
The Magellan spacecraft had already mapped over 84 percent of the surface of Venus with its imaging
radar when it revealed a surprising new feature: a narrow channel snaking its way 4,200 miles across the
hellish surface. The channel is 55 miles longer than the Nile River, the longest river on Earth. Water
could not have carved out this channel, because the planet's high surface pressure and temperature
would have quickly transformed liquid water to vapor. Lava is one possibility, but to carve the narrow
channel, it would have had to flow rapidly and with the consistency of paint. "The very existence of such
a channel is a great puzzle," said Dr. Steve Saunders, project scientist for the Magellan mission. "If
the long channel were carved by something flowing on the surface, the liquid must have had some
unusual properties."
Astronomer C. Robert O'Dell of Rice University aimed NASA's Hubble Space Telescope at the rich
star-forming region known as the Orion Nebula to study newborn stars. What he and his colleagues found
instead were solar systems in the making. The images from the Space Telescope revealed stars so young
they were still embedded in the disks of dust from which they formed. Dr. O'Dell calls these objects
proplyds. "These disks are a missing link in our understanding of how planets like those in our solar
system form," said Dr. O'Dell. "It is likely that many of these stars have planetary systems."
It is often said that astronomy is the oldest science, but in many respects it is also the newest science
because year after year discoveries and new insights such as the ones above continually remake and
revise our perspective of the universe. In the past two decades alone, astronomy has experienced a
flurry of discoveries unprecedented in its history. Many of these discoveries sound more like science
fiction than science fact: light echoes around exploding stars; gamma ray bursters; "great walls" of
galaxies; voids in space; cosmic jets; gravitational lenses; Einstein rings. Such discoveries not only
reveal a universe richer and more varied than had been suspected by previous generations, but pose
bold, new challenges for scientists.
Modern astronomy is flourishing. Interplanetary spacecraft have observed eight of the nine planets
in phenomenal detail, mapped and landed on the surfaces of the moon, Mars, and Venus, and returned
the first close-up images of a comet nucleus and several asteroids. Orbiting observatories scrutinize
star clusters, nebulae, the violent cores of galaxies, and distant quasars. Another orbiting spacecraft,
the Cosmic Background Explorer, has mapped the faint background glow of energy that is believed
to be the remnant radiation from the big bang 15 billion years ago.
Meanwhile, astronomers are using ground-based telescopes, equipped with the latest electronic
light-gathering instruments, to measure the chemical composition of stars, the mass of galaxy clusters,
and looking for planets around other stars. Future years will see an armada of new large telescopes
brought to bear on some of the most important astronomical questions being asked today. How old
are the oldest stars? How did the first galaxies form in the universe? Why is most of the mass in the
universe not directly observable? What is the nature of this "dark matter?" Will the universe expand
forever?
Of course, astronomers don't just use telescopes in their studies of the universe. In recent years,
powerful supercomputers have been employed to, among other things, model cosmic jets and the
environment around pulsars and black holes, simulate galaxy collisions, and devise better theories
on how galaxies clustered into large-scale structures in the early universe.
Astronomers also study data gathered by physicists using particle accelerators. Key questions about
the big bang and the nature of matter in the universe can only be answered by studying the behavior
and forces of elementary particles and, perhaps, discovering new particles. Hence, in order to
understand how the very large came to be, astronomers must learn what they can about the very
small.
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Preparation
for a Career
in Astronomy |
You may have heard somewhere that astronomy is "hard" or difficult to grasp. This may seem to be
the case because astronomers don't have laboratories like chemists, biologists, or paleontologists;
they can't put stars in test tubes or galaxies in a centrifuge. Their "fossils" lie millions and even billions
of light-years away. Most of the time, astronomers derive information from an analysis of the light or
the motions of celestial bodies, a process that, to the uninitiated, may seem more like sorcery than
science.
In fact, astronomy is a challenging science, but not because the universe is inaccessible in the
conventional sense. Rather, astronomers must apply equal measures of analytic thinking and imagination,
logic and intuition, to answer the most fundamental questions about the cosmos: What are stars and
planets? How did they evolve? Why does the night sky look the way it does? Does life exist among the
stars? How did the universe get here? How will it end? If astronomy seems a rigorous science, it's
because the objective of astronomers is nothing less than to understand the nature of the universe.
It takes a special person to pursue this objective; one who likes to challenge and be challenged.
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High School
|
Decisions made in high school can have a big effect on a science career. Generally, students who take
mathematics or science courses after the tenth grade have the best chance of successfully pursuing a
science or engineering career. Although most colleges require at least one year of high school science
and two years of high school mathematics, this minimum background is insufficient for students planning
to major in science. A better approach is to complete math through pre-calculus in high school. This
gives students who plan to major in astronomy or physics the necessary grounding in mathematics
needed to start their science courses as soon as they begin college. Both chemistry and physics courses
are also strongly recommended in high school as adequate preparation for the first year of college.
Many entering students have taken advanced placement calculus and/or physics, though these courses
are not required.
Students are also encouraged to get involved in high school science groups, state junior academies of
science, and local amateur astronomy clubs. There are literally thousands of such organizations in the
United States. |
College |
College undergraduates planning careers in astronomy must obtain a solid foundation in physics and
mathematics. An astronomy major with a strong background in physics, or a physics major with some
astronomy coursework, should have a sufficient foundation in physics and math to seek a graduate
program in astronomy. Specifically, a student planning to go on to graduate school in astronomy should
have had physics courses covering electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, thermodynamics,
statistical mechanics, and quantum theory. For some astronomy specialties, however, studies in geology
or chemistry may be more appropriate.
Computer science, too, permeates all facets of astronomy today. In recent years, supercomputers have
allowed astronomers to simulate processes that before were nearly impossible to study. A good grounding
in computer science, therefore, will benefit prospective astronomers, especially those considering a
specialty in theoretical astronomy.
In addition, a good scientist must also have the ability to read and write clearly and to communicate
well with people, often across cultural boundaries. Do not neglect college courses in writing, the
humanities, and the social sciences.
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Graduate
School |
Most astronomy positions require a Ph.D. degree, which can take five or six years of graduate work. This
path enables the astronomer to do much independent work, which is what makes astronomy enjoyable:
finding a problem and finding a way to solve it. Admission to graduate schools generally requires
completing an undergraduate physics or astronomy/physics major with a B average or better and
satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Exam. Once admitted, the astronomy graduate
students take advanced courses in astronomy and astrophysics while beginning to undertake some
research. The specific courses depend on the requirements of the department and on the student's
research interests. After the first two years of course work, the graduate program generally requires
research projects to be conducted under the supervision of faculty members, culminating in a Ph.D.
dissertation.
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Where
Astronomers
Work
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Employment
Potential
"Discovering new information about how our universe works is always
an incredible experience, but sharing that information is also a
source of satisfaction. As a planetarium directory, I transport
audiences to distant planets and stars daily. I am constantly
rewarded by children's amazed gasps and squeals as I make the sky
move, and give them their first look at the wonders of the stars.
Astronomy is an excellent way of exposing young minds to the thrill of
scientific discovery. Ideally, by writing articles, giving shows, and
holding special events, astronomy educators are creating a world where
science is not difficult or boring but is instead a key to our
future."
—Christine Brunello, planetarium director, Don Harrington
Discovery Center, Amarillo, Texas.
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As science professions go, astronomy is a relatively small field, with about 6,000 professional astronomers
in North America. Because of its size, astronomers get to know and collaborate with many colleagues
across the U.S. and around the world. This can lead to an advantageous dialogue among astronomers.
On the other hand, there is a small turnover of positions each year and, therefore, strong competition for
positions. In recent years, there have been about 150 job openings for astronomers in North America,
while the number of Ph.D.s conferred annually in recent years has averaged about 125. It is common
for astronomers to spend from three to six years in postdoctoral positions before finding a steady position
in a university department, national facility, or government lab.
In such a small and popular field, only those with a quality education, ability, and passion for the subject
are likely to find a permanent position. Astronomy training, however, emphasizes a remarkably broad
set of problem-solving skills. With careful selection of graduate school courses and experiences, one
may prepare for an interesting and productive career in a related field, such as industrial research,
education, and public information.
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Where the
Jobs Are
"I've been interested in all the sciences since grade school.
Astronomy was particularly appealing because it addressed some of the
most basic questions of who, what, and where we are [in the universe].
Later I was happy to discover that being a good observer means using
tools from a lot of other fields: optics, chemistry, atomic physics,
computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering, biology, and
fluid dynamics, to name a few. Astronomy is interdisciplinary.
A word of caution: Astronomy is not a high-profit business. Our
'product' is knowledge about the universe, something you can't own or
sell. Salaries are reasonable, but competition for jobs is stiff and
the hours are very long. If you are considering a career in
astronomy, you must be motivated by a love of discovery and the
pursuit of knowledge."
—Joe Harrington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Primary
research interest: Planetary science. |
Most professional astronomers (about 55 percent) are either faculty members at universities and
colleges, or affiliated with universities and colleges through observatories and laboratories.
(Universities require a Ph.D. for a faculty position and hire new people based on recommendations
by the astronomy or astronomy/physics faculty.) For these astronomers, teaching is their major
activity. Astronomers in academic positions can spend a portion of their time on their research,
depending on their teaching schedule.
Often an astronomer will be a member of a physics department or a physics/astronomy department
rather than a separate astronomy department. Such faculty members may be called on to teach
some physics courses as well as astronomy courses. Because of their training, both undergraduate
and graduate, astronomers are well qualified for this expanded role.
Even though teaching is an academic career, astronomers at leading colleges are a major source
of astronomical research activity. In addition to the observatories and research institutions
operated by individual universities, there are a number of national observatories and research
institutes that make research time available to observational astronomers at academic institutions and to others.
Observational astronomers spend between 10 and 30 nights per year working at an observatory
or getting observations from spacecraft, and the rest of their time analyzing the data they've
collected. Others, such as theoretical astrophysicists, may not even work with observing
equipment but conduct a great deal of their astronomy research using supercomputers. Much of
the astronomer's work day consists of analyzing data, interpreting observations, or planning
observational programs.
Recent university graduates start their careers at universities, colleges, and other institutions
with postdoctoral research positions (one to three years of research work for people with new
doctoral degrees) and research associateships that allow full time for research.
Median salaries at universities and colleges
depend upon the size, quality, and competitiveness
of the school. Starting salaries for assistant
professors start at about $50,000 for 9-10 months,
the range for senior professors is $80,000-100,000
for 9-10 months. Typical postdoc pay ranges
between $35,000-45,000 per year. Contrary to
popular belief, scientists at national or government
labs earn the highest median salary, followed
by those employed by business or industry. Many
faculty members augment their salaries with
summer work at their universities or with summer
research support.
In addition, astronomers as a group are striving to encourage a vigorous affirmative-action
approach to recruiting. Significant changes have already occurred in the male-to-female ratios.
Already more than one-quarter of the young astronomers are women, and this fraction is
growing. It is hoped that future years will see a healthy and more equitable balance of men
and women of all races in astronomy.
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National
Observatories
and
Government
Laboratories
"I find that astronomy is a fascinating subject to work in, because we
deal with so many different and exotic objects, yet the field is still
small enough that it's possible to have some idea of the big picture.
It's also very rewarding because the general public is often very
interested in our subject. When you tell someone you're an
astronomer, the response is usually, 'How interesting!' followed by a
flood of questions."
—Christine Wilson, McMaster University. Primary research
interest: Radio and submillimeter astronomy.
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About a third of the professional astronomers are directly employed by the federal government or by
federally supported national observatories and laboratories. A Ph.D. in astronomy or physics or, in some
cases, a specialized field of engineering, is generally required for these positions just as for academic
positions. While the individual astronomer may devote some time to research of personal interest, the
research area is more often defined by the employer than is the case with universities and colleges. This
is because governmental agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the US. Naval Observatory, etc., have very specific goals and
interests.
The national observatories such as the National Astronomy &Ionosphere Center (Arecibo Observatory), National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), encourage individual research. They do require, however, that effort be devoted to instrument design and operation as well as cooperation with visiting scientists.
A form of tenure, or guaranteed continued employment, can be granted to scientists in these jobs either
according to civil service rules or in a manner similar to that at universities. Salary levels are comparable
to those in other government agencies and in the larger universities.
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Business
and Private
Industry |
About ten percent of all astronomers work in business or private industry. A few industries, such as the
aerospace field, hire astronomers to do research that may give their company a competitive edge. A
number of consulting firms supply astronomy talent to the government for specific tasks. In addition,
there is are large number of companies that, rather than conduct astronomy research, make use of the
background and talents of the astronomer in related areas. Astronomers are generally well-versed in
instrumentation, remote sensing, spectral observations, and computer applications to unusual problems.
Job security may be somewhat less certain than in government and academia since there is no tenure or
civil service in industry. The salaries, however, are often correspondingly higher, especially at
mid-management levels and above. In practice, most companies protect their good employees, but the
choice of work within a given company may be limited. In exchange for some loss of choice, there is
the likelihood of getting a job that is technically challenging and that provides great opportunity for
both intellectual and professional growth. Industrial employment offers a wide variety of nontechnical
career paths as well. Although a Ph.D. is useful for industrial jobs, it is less often a formal requirement.
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Other
Related
Jobs
"When I was a child, my parents sat me in front of the
TV to watch the space flights. I didn't miss a single launch until the
8th shuttle lift-off! My dad bought me a telescope when I was five,
and we often used it to look at the planets, or we'd lie on the hood
of the car and just look up. In 4th grade, my teacher read A Wrinkle
in Time to the class. I was immediately hooked on becoming a nuclear
physicist so I could travel in time like the characters in the
book.
I pursued my Bachelor's degree in physics, but with an astrophysics
option. I continued with a Master's degree in physics using the VLA
to map the radio emission from the nearby radio galaxy M87. I am now
completing my Ph.D. in astronomy.
I wanted to do astronomy since I was a little kid. There are some who
stumble into astronomy late in the game, but the majority of us have
always had our eyes on the stars."
—Dean C. Hines, the University of Arizona. Primary research
interest: Active galactic nuclei. |
Astronomers working in planetariums, science museums, or in other public service positions provide an
important information link between the world of professional astronomy and the general public. These
jobs require a broad range of astronomy knowledge and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively
with the public. Some jobs are available in secondary schools teaching physics or earth sciences, as well
as in the science journalism field. Jobs in these categories generally do not require an advanced degree,
although a Ph.D. or master's degree might prove useful at the more technical levels.
Although most astronomers have advanced degrees, people with an undergraduate major in astronomy
or physics can find jobs in support positions at national observatories, national laboratories, federal
agencies, and sometimes in large astronomy departments at universities. An undergraduate astronomy
degree is excellent preparation for science teachers, laboratory technicians, computer programmers,
and science journalists. It can also serve as the basis for graduate degrees in other fields, such as law
or medical school. Some universities may not offer a major in astronomy for undergraduates, but may
instead have a program in physics with a specialization in astronomy.
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Astronomical
Organizations
and Resources |
There are a variety of clubs and societies for individuals interested in astronomy. These include many
local amateur astronomy clubs as well as several national organizations. In addition, science museums,
planetariums, and astronomy departments at major universities are good sources of astronomy
information.
- American Association of Variable Star Observers
25 Birch Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
- An organization of amateur and professional astronomers interested in the study of variable stars.
- Astronomical League
Science Service Building
9 N. Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
- A federation of local amateur astronomy clubs.
- Astronomical Society of the Pacific
390 Ashton Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112
- An international society promoting astronomy and astronomy education among professionals, amateurs, educators, and the general public.
- Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
136 DuPont Street
Toronto, Ontario CANADA M5R 1V2
- A Canadian society open to anyone interested in astronomy.
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