Astronomy has captivated bright minds for millennia. Because astronomy is a competitive and rigorous field, it’s imperative to have a clear perspective on the future of research and the reality of limited research positions. If you’re considering becoming a full-time stargazer, or if you want to make a career out of contemplating the cosmos, you’ve come to the right place.

We've compiled links to the best resources on the web for pursuing an education and career in astronomy. All of the links will direct you to resources from universities, government agencies, and respectable independent organizations.

Pursuing an Astronomy Education - Career Information - Career Opportunities - Other Articles and Resources

Specializations in Astronomy

Astrophysics - Celestial Mechanics - Cosmology - Instrument Design - Radar and Radio Astronomy - Planetary Science

Pursuing an Astronomy Education

The recent success of the many dazzling astronomy apps reaffirms the awe-inspiring power of the stars to capture our imaginations and prompt questions about the wondrous magnitude of the universe. If you're interested in majoring in astronomy, check out the links below to learn more about typical career paths. Careers in astronomy typically require graduate study and can involve either a theoretical or observational approach.

Whether you're interested in employment with a private corporation, the government, a university, or a school, be sure to check out the links below to learn more.

• Curious About Astronomy?: Maintained by astronomers at Cornell University, this helpful and detailed site is a great introduction for those who are curious about what a career in astronomy might hold for them.
• Choosing a College & Program: This FAQ listing maintained by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) answers basic questions about how to pursue an education in astronomy and links to other helpful resources on the topic as well.
• Education & Training: This resource from the Bureau of Labor Statistics covers what kind of education, training, and qualifications you will need for a career in astronomy.

Career Information

According to the Astronomical League, approximately 60 percent of the roughly 6,000 Americans domestically employed in astronomy work at colleges and universities. Thirty percent are employed by the government in federally funded research positions and the remaining 10 percent are in industry positions. Check out these informative resources to learn more about finding your niche in astronomy.

• A New Universe to Explore: Careers in Astronomy: This comprehensive online brochure from the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is definitely a resource you don't want to miss.
• What Can I Do with a Degree in Astronomy?: This article from Boston University offers a good perspective on the outlook for astronomy majors.
• Career Overview: O*Net Online offers a great introduction to everything you need to know about a career in astronomy, including the tasks, tools, and skills involved.

Career Opportunities

• Job Register from the American Astronomical Society
• Career Site and Job-Seeker Links maintained by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory
• Job-Seeker Resources from Berkeley

Other Articles and Resources

Specializations in Astronomy

Astrophysics

Broadly defined, astrophysics is the study of the physics of the universe. Whether it's applied to gravitational fields, high-energy particles, or celestial objects like stars and galaxies, astrophysics overlaps significantly with astronomy and can involve many foundational physics concepts like thermodynamics, electromagnetism, or quantum mechanics to name a few.

• Astrophysics Basics : Read this introductory article from PhysicsToday.org to get a better sense of what this cosmic career path involves. Additionally, this resource from the University of Minnesota answers the question, what can I do with a major in astrophysics?

When Stephen Colbert was researching fallback careers during the recession, the first one he attempted was, of course, astrophysics. If you're looking for some levity, check out this clip to see the ever-patient Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of New York City's Hayden Planetarium and host of Nova scienceNOW, introducing Colbert to the four basic steps to becoming an astrophysicist.

Celestial Mechanics

Celestial mechanics (and its sister field astrometry) is a classical discipline that studies the affect of gravity on the motion of celestial bodies. Galileo, Kepler, and Newton got things started, but astronomers in this field still use these concepts to make important calculations that can track near-Earth objects and determine the distribution of dark matter.

• Celestial Mechanics Basics: Read this introductory article from Astrometry.org to better understand the scope of this discipline.

Cosmology

Cosmology is about asking the big questions about our universe. How did it begin? How is it evolving? What is our place in it? If these meta-level ideas inspire you, a career in cosmology might be a great fit.

• Cosmology Basics: This resource from NASA gives a helpful introduction to cosmological theory.

Instrument Design

Unlike the many theoretical and research based fields, this subset of astronomy is one of the few industry-related options. For those who want to pair their love of astronomy with technical knowledge and engineering know-how, this field is a logical choice.

• Instrument Design Basics: To get a sense of the kind of projects that astronomical instrument specialists undertake, check out this listing from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Radar and Radio Astronomy

These fields use sophisticated technology to explore the universe using radar and radio waves. Radio astronomers are able to uncover and research things (like chemical reactions or radiation in space) that would be undetectable with optical telescopes that rely on light.

• Radar and Radio Astronomy Basics: This article from Canada's National Research Council gives more background on the specifics of radio astronomy. And if you want to see some dazzling pictures from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, download their brochure.

Planetary Science

No surprises here, planetary science is the study of the planetary systems. This field is can involve specializations in many disciplines including planetary geology, astrobiology, atmospheric science, and others.

• Planetary Science Basics: Get a introduction to the field from this interview of a NASA planetary scientist courtesy of Johns Hopkins University and Cogito.org.