Clik here if u r a professional astronomer

SpaceGeek · #1 03-10-2005, 04:56 PM

G'day, yall!
I have bin lookin at different careers in astronomy

and da results aren't very helpful

. So, if u r a professional astronomer (or in a job involving astronomy) please reply and describe wot u do.

Tanks.

mickoking · #2 03-10-2005, 06:36 PM

Brush up on your english.

MiG · #3 03-10-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickoking

Brush up on your english.

Yes. I seriously thought the topic was going to be a joke due to the contrast in the title. "Clik here if u r" and then "professional astronomer".

BTW, choosing careers isn't a matter of "that sounds fully sik", at least not on a superficial level. Everything will probably have more boring bits than you imagine.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #4 03-10-2005, 10:48 PM

Mr. Spacegeek, (the funny talking person)

Going by what I have read and seen on Discovery Channel professional astronomers very rarely ever look through a telescope! One show on discovery had a Professional astronomer actually complaining about the fact that she NEVER gets to look through telescopes in her job. But she said that she has learnt to enjoy computers and 'Radio Astronomy'.

Jobs aren't always what we want to do, but in the 'area' of what we want to do!

iceman (Mike) · #5 04-10-2005, 07:09 AM

Good point BD - I'll never be a professional astronomer, too much maths and physics for me and I don't fancy going back to study them again.

But I certainly wouldn't mind working in my current capacity but around astronomy - that is, in the IT department at the AAO or something

And guys, enough with the english criticisms, he's only 15 and all 15 year olds on the 'net talk like that, in my experience from online gaming at least.

It's a consequence of the SMS and IM generation.

davidpretorius · #6 04-10-2005, 07:17 AM

200 years ago would have been a great job in astronomy as lots of visual discoveries by looking thru a telescope ie Galilieo!

Nowadays, however to get paid in astronomy, you have to sell your product, ie telescopes and equipment, write for a magazine ie Australian Sky & Telescope or produce superb work like the Ed and sell your images.

To get funding, ouch.....

As the others have said, work with it, around it and hopefully you can have the best of both worlds. Get a job that has some link thru computers or a telescope shop and you can still get a wage and be involoved with astronomy.

Have you got a camera you can take some piccies thru your scope?

vindictive666 (John) · #7 04-10-2005, 08:06 AM

have a look here and then under employment

http://www.aao.gov.au/

janoskiss (Steve H) · #8 04-10-2005, 04:21 PM

Wow! I didn't realise there were 78 professional astronomers on this site! (number of times thread's been viewed so far) Ooops I didn't realise I was one of them either...

ving (David) · #9 04-10-2005, 04:40 PM

In all seriousness space geek, as a startig point (assuming you havent done any research yet), duck down to your local library and ask for a book called "The Job Guide" it'll give you at least some idea of study and career opportunities in the field.

1337 5p34k pwnz!

Chrissyo (Chris) · #10 05-10-2005, 10:37 PM

At school, we're currently getting career talks from the head of our secondary school. Naturally, I'm interested in looking into a similar field (though I wouldn't mind getting more into the enginerring side of sattelites etc). Anyway, I've been looking around and found this nice little site:

http://www.uq.edu.au/careers/?page=33948&pid=0

Gives a sorta basic outline, though its pretty much already been covered by everyone here

If your job books are anything like ours, you'll need to do some internet research. We have a hugely thick A4 paperback book on jobs for JUST Queensland. Under 'astronomer' they hardly give any details about what its all about. Though, you are supposed to do research into it anyway apparently.

I would recommend reading some books on the subject, as they can help you get a feel for what areas of astronomy you might be interested. I found my interest in the mechanical side of space by reading such books on MIR, Pathfinder, and the vast array of JPL missions to other moons.

Haha, go my spelling, they'll make me a spelling-olympics champion yet

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 05-10-2005, 10:58 PM

There is an Australian Astronaut, and the lady who does the final fit of heat tiles on the Shuttles is an Aussie. The world is open to you Spacegeek if you are willing to chase it! Stick with it mate, you never know where your search might end up!

SpaceGeek · #12 06-10-2005, 06:37 PM

Unfortunately, no camera. So dont expect any piccies. Unfortunately, also, i dont speak Leet much. its just over the top. i sometimes abbreviate where necessary or when im in a hurry

50rry, N0 !337, v1N9

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #13 06-10-2005, 07:32 PM

7h883 9hd bdy6 3he7s.

Cop that! I don't know what is says but it sure was fun typing it.

acropolite (Phil) · #14 06-10-2005, 09:05 PM

BTW don't worry too much about the English Spacegeek....None of those that have replied (myself included) are capable of reading and comprehending a simple english instruction. After all your thread did say http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/i...cons/icon4.gif Clik here if u r a professional astronomer......

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #15 06-10-2005, 09:15 PM

That's us Phil, Professional Astronomers. (in our sleep)

Rodstar (Rod) · #16 06-10-2005, 09:31 PM

From what I have heard, professional astronomers get paid peanuts. It's ridiculous, our government should be spending more on this field because we have the best dark skies in the world, and some pretty smart people.

Methinks a lucrative career in astrophysics would involve a relocation to NASAville.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #17 07-10-2005, 09:03 AM

They get a bit more than peanuts, Rod. Maybe the odd macadamia and cashew nut here and there. Like most other scientists, astronomers earn enough for a modest but comfortable living. But you certainly wouldn't choose a career in astronomy for the money.

SpaceGeek · #18 08-10-2005, 10:36 AM

well, whaddaya do Bsides gettin paid macadamias, janoskiss?

Starkler (Geoff) · #19 08-10-2005, 11:43 AM

As a kid I used to play around with electronics and now work in the industry.
After doing it for a job i have no desire to tinker in my spare time, even though the skills have come in handy.
For me star gazing is something I do purely for pleasure and I wouldnt want to kill that by turning it into a chore.

jC_7 · #20 08-10-2005, 05:03 PM

Hi

I study Physics at University, having taken an astrophysics and optics course and having done observational and computational astronomy laboratories I'd say that if you are looking to be a professional astronomer you would have to have a strong grasp of Physics in general as well as be very competent in Maths.

As others have alluded to, you probably wouldn't be looking through a telescope. I would imagine that you would either be writing proposals to use telescope time and creating experiments (i.e. thinking about what pictures/data to take), in which case you would probably need a PhD in astrophysics or you would be going over data trying to extract some information from it. I could be wrong though, but that’s what I have gathered professional astronomers do (at least professional astrophysicists).

-Justin<o:p></o:p>