Frequently Asked Questions

What is on this page?

General Astronomy

What exactly is astronomy?
Astronomy is a physical science concerned with the smallest particles and the largest natural objects. The name Astronomy comes from the Greek roots Astr- and -nomia to literally mean "name stars". Astronomy is the study of everything outside of the earth's atmosphere and their chemical and physical properties.

What's the difference between astronomy and astrology?
Astronomy is a science that studies everything outside of the earth's atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, galaxies; and the properties and relationships of those celestial bodies. Astronomers base their studies on research and observation. Astrology on the other hand, is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affect the way events occur on earth. If you're interested in the solar system and the planets, other celestial objects like asteroids and comets, other galaxies and the rest of the universe, what makes up space, and the possibility of alien life or space travel, Astronomy is the field you're considering.

I want to be an Amateur Astronomer.
Great! The best place to start is at the American Association of Amateur Astronomers. They offer tons of information about Amateur Astronomy, conventions, magazine subscriptions, and more. Access to much of the information is free, but membership to the society will cost an annual fee.

Can I buy a star?
There is no place where you can purchase a star. There are a few businesses which claim to sell or name stars, but the names they give are not recognized by anyone in the scientific community. Stars are named by the International Astronomical Union, headquartered in Paris, France. They are given numbers determined by their exact location in the sky. This system is organized so that it is most beneficial to the scientists that are studying them. Occasionally a comet or other solar system object is named after people, often by or after the person who discovered it, but stars are not. If you do locate a company trying to sell you a star, know that the star they "sell" you will never be known as your star by anyone but you. There is nothing stopping them from "selling" the same star over and over again. Here is the general policy that the IAU has for naming all other objects in the sky.

What was that in the sky last night?
The AAS staff does not monitor the sky and most likely can not identify the event you witnessed. The best resources would be Sky and Telescope magazine's "Monthly Sky Highlights," the Ask the Space Scientist website or your local planetarium or science center. If you are curious about recent events in the sky, you may want to visit the AAS Education office's Current Event page.

I have a general question about Astronomy.
The best place to get questions about Astronomy answered is on the web. The AAS Education office's Links page lists some user friendly Astronomy websites. A FAQ for General Astronomy questions can be found on the AAS Education office's General Astronomy page.

How do I know if I found a meteorite?
Contact the closest science center or planetarium for advice about how to determine if it is one. They will have to examine the item before rendering an opinion.

Where do I report the discovery of a comet/meteor/UFO, etc.?
Transient astronomical phenomena such as comets, novae, supernovae, etc. can be reported to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. Meteor(ite)/fireball reports to the International Meteor Organization. UFO reports to the National Institute for Discovery Science.

How does one communicate research?
Meetings: Scientific results may be presented at the regular meetings of the AAS and its Divisions. AAS members can present a paper at any AAS meeting. Nonmembers may present only once and must be sponsored by a Full Member who is familiar with the work to be presented. Journals: AAS journals publish significant and original research papers. Papers are accepted from both members and nonmembers. Each paper is subjected to a review by one or more qualified referees. The decision to publish or not publish the paper rests entirely with the editor of the journal. Papers must be submitted in accord with the instructions appropriate for each journal. Prospective authors should consult the journal's web site for submission instructions. Any given research article may only be submitted to one journal at a time. An author must wait until one journal has rendered a decision on an article, or must formally withdraw the article before submitting to another journal.
The Astrophysical Journal and Supplement
The Astronomical Journal
Preprint servers: There are preprint servers that permit any author to post an article for consideration by the research community. The AAS does not operate any of these services, nor does it specifically endorse any of them. Articles posted as preprints in this way may subsequently be submitted for publication in the AAS journals.

How can I find a planetarium or astronomy club in my area?
Sky and Telescope Magazine, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the Astronomical League all list astronomy clubs.

I'm interested in telescopes.
A great resource for information about telescopes is the Antique Telescope Society.

Astronomy and School

What does it take to become an astronomer?
Most research astronomers have doctorate degrees in physics or astronomy and also bachelor's and/or master's degrees in a physical science, usually physics or astronomy. It takes about 10 years of education beyond normal high school education to become a research astronomer. Astronomers are usually comfortable with computers, both usage and programming in addition to being knowledgeable about basic science, especially physics. They also have extensive mathematical knowledge.

I'm in high school. How can I prepare for an astronomy career?
If you are a high school student who wants to become an astronomer, the best advice is to study hard. It's important to take a lot of academic classes in high school if you want a career in any of the sciences, so make sure you fit in four years of science, math, english, and social studies. You should read magazines like Sky and Telescope or Astronomy and follow the new developments in astronomy that make it into the news. Any readings or research that you do early on can only help you later. Astronomy books are located in the 520s and Physics books are in the 530s according to the library's Dewey Decimal system.

I'm doing an astronomy project and I need help..
The AAS is not a reference library, however when we receive inquiries we will do our best to steer you toward reasonable sources of reliable information. We do not have regular staff dedicated to this, so do not rely on an immediate response. Such queries should be directed to education@aas.org. There are many sources for school projects. Start with your school or local community library. NASA's site for students is particularly helpful: Kindergarten to 4th grade, 5th to 8th grade, grades 9-12, and post-secondary. Other useful websites include: Ask the Astronomer, Ask the Space Scientist, and Amazing Space (Space Telescope Science Institute).

I need to interview an astronomer.
The AAS does not give out names of astronomers. However, there's probably an astronomer near you. Check with your local community college, or four-year college or university, planetarium or science museum. Be sure to provide your name, school, and a specific description about your project. If you're working with time constraints some online interviews with astronomers are available.

What colleges are the best?
There is no easy answer to your question as there isn't a one-size-fits-all program. Each department, and each school, offers different programs, opportunities and environments. You will benefit from spending some time researching colleges and universities; they have web pages describing their programs, the schools and so forth. You may wish to contact the department chair for additional information on the schools you are interested. The AAS maintains a list of programs that offer Astronomy related degrees.

What do I study in college?
Attend a school with a good physics or astronomy department and be prepared to work hard! Although it is hard to become an astronomer, most who get graduate degrees in the field are employed (fewer than 2% are unemployed) and most feel that their graduate education prepared them well for their current job.

How long do I go to college?
How much school you go through depends on what you want to do with your degree. Typically Undergraduate school is four years, but a lot of positions in astronomy require a Ph.D., which is on average six more years of school.

Does the AAS offer any astronomy scholarships?
At this time, the American Astronomical Society offers no scholarships. However, we do award the Bok Prize in Astronomy annually to the top two astronomy science fair projects in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). First prize is US $5000, second prize is US $3000. You may write to Science Service, Inc., 1719 N Street, NW, Washington DC 20036, to request a copy of the "Student Handbook for Precollege Science and Engineering Projects", and for information on "Intel ISEF participation".

I want to be an astronomer: how do I find colleges? how do I find scholarships?
The web makes looking for colleges and universities easier than it used to be -- most institutions (and astronomy and physics departments) have comprehensive web pages. In addition there are websites that have already gathered a lot of this information. One source of information on colleges, with links to sites that list scholarships, grants and other financial aid is U.S. College Search which lists some 10,000 U.S. Colleges and Universities including school contact information, website addresses, enrollment information and student demographics as well as Career Guidance, and Financial Aid information.
For Graduate School information try GradSchoolShopper , which lets you search for graduate schools in the physics and related fields, e.g. astronomy, by degree (masters or doctorate), location. It also provides links to career advice and resources.
What else can I do?
A good place to get more information is the AAS Career Brochure which includes information about an education in astronomy and preparing for a career.  

Astronomy Careers

Where does one find information about careers in astronomy and other sciences?
The AAS career brochure, A New Universe to Explore, Careers in Astronomy, is available online and as a booklet (contact the Society to request copies). This guide covers all of the most popularly asked questions like what astronomers do, what kind of astronomers are there, how easy is it to get a job, how much do astronomers get paid etc. Other websites with useful information about a career in astronomy include the NOAO website and the Astronomy Cafe.

I'd like information about summer internships.
You should look at the AAS Summer Opportunities page. You may also be interested in the AAS Research Experience for Undergraduates page.

Does the AAS provide career services?
The AAS publishes a Job Register, which is the premier location for employers who are seeking astronomers. The Job Register is published on the first of each month and usually contains about 50 or more jobs each month. The AAS provides a Job Center at each AAS meeting. The Job center serves as a meeting place for employers and job seekers, as well as being a posting location for new jobs and jobs in the most recent Job Register. Interviews can be carried out and many job seekers have found it is a great place to network and meet potential employers. At AAS meetings, the Committee on Employment tries to organize one or more sessions that deal with career issues. Authors of specialized books for physical scientists who are seeking employment have been popular sessions in the past. The AAS also organizes, at its winter meeting, a career seminar, which takes place on the day before the meeting officially begins. At this seminar, participants can learn how to search for a job and the ins and outs of networking, writing resumes and other information. Finally, the AAS provides links to a large number of career related resources and a special page of links to astronomers who are working in industry, or a non-traditional career.

I'd like employment statistics.
Employment statistics are available on the AAS Career Services website, through the NSF Division of Science Resources Studies and the AIP Statistical Research Center.

Can the AAS find me job?
I want a job as an Astronomer. Can the AAS find me one? In a word, no. But, by attending one of our career seminars, learning how to perform a job search and regularly tracking opportunities in the Job Register, you stand a good chance of finding the kind of job you want.