ASTRONOMY DEGREES

Overview

Choose an astronomy degree, and you’ll have the chance to grapple with scientific questions ranging from the origins of the universe to the nature of ‘dark energy’.
Often offered alongside physics, astronomy is the study of all things celestial – basically the science of objects and events outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
In general, astronomy courses involve a combination of theory and observation, though some courses will focus more on one of these aspects.
The observational side could include opportunities to use telescopes and other professional equipment at major observatories, which may mean travelling to different locations around the world.
However, you should also be prepared to spend a lot of time sat in front of a computer screen, as computer-based analysis is a key component of modern astronomy.

Specialization

Topics you can expect to encounter on an astronomy course include:

• Cosmology: The study of the origins, evolution and basic structure of the universe.
• Astrophysics: The physics and properties of celestial objects, including stars, planets and galaxies – their properties and how they behave.
• Astrobiology: The study of the origins, evolution and possible future of living organisms in the universe, both on Earth and – who knows? – beyond.
• Solar astrophysics: Studying the properties and behavior of the Sun, and using this knowledge to progress understanding of other stars and systems.
• Planetary geology: Applying geological studies to learn about the composition and behaviour of planets, moons, comets, asteroids – and anything else floating around out there.

Most astronomy courses also include some core modules in physics, covering topics such as Newtonian dynamics, electromagnetism and atomic physics.
You may also learn about the history of astronomy, as well as gaining practical skills in current observational methods.

Career Options

Many astronomy graduates go on to research roles, which could be based in:
• Universities
• Observatories and planetariums
• Governmental research organizations
• Private companies in industries such as aerospace
For those keen to pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject, there are roles in education and museums, as well as in scientific journalism.
Many of these roles, particularly research positions, will require education up to PhD level at least. But then, if you’ve truly got a passion for the subject, the idea of spending an extra three or four years studying astronomy should appear more as a welcoming nebula than a scary black hole.
On the other hand, if you’re ready to try something different, there are many sectors where the strong numerical, computational and data-handling skills provided by an astronomy degree are in high demand, ranging from media and communications to finance and accounting.

Key Skills

Among the transferable skills an astronomy degree should allow you to develop are:
• Technical expertise
• Numeracy
• Data analysis
• Problem-solving
• Creativity
• General IT skills
• General research skills
• Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
• Professional communication, spoken and written