Thursday, November 24, 2011

Should I take Physics or Astronomy & Astrophysics along with Aerospace engineering?

I want to do a dual degree program and can't decide what I want to take with Aerospace engineering. It is either going to be Physics or Astronomy %26amp; Astrophysics. Which one would increase my chances at getting a job at NASA?|||If you want to go for NASA then astrophysics would be better, but for anything else in the world then physics would be better. With the way things are going, NASA won't be worth going for anymore because the entirety of their responsibility will be to tell Muslims how much they've done for science, as per Obama's instructions.|||physics covers all you'll need to know for aerospace.

Is there a scope of getting a job in astrophysics after PhD in India?

Is there any scope of getting job in india in astrophysics? And after completing my graduation in engineering is there any possiblity of jumping into the field of astrophysics? What are the most common difficulties which an individual faces in this field?|||Sure, it's possible. There are many astronomers working in India, and there are many Indian astronomers working elsewhere in the world. With only an engineering degree you won't be able to become an astronomer (all nowdays have PhDs in physics or astrophysics), but there are engineering jobs at observatories.

Will a Spanish GCSE help me with a career in astrophysics?

Im doing a Spanish GCSE and i rreeaallllllyy want to drop it to concentrate on other subjects but i want to know if it will help me in a career in astrophysics. If yes, how?|||Only if you go to work on a telescope (optical or radio) in a Spanish speaking country (there are notable ones in the Canary Islands and in South America) - but most scientists communicate internationally in English anyway.|||No - a GCSE in spanish qualifies you for squat more than using a phrase book.

Should I take physics or astrophysics along with aerospace engineering?

I was going to take get an aerospace degree and either a physics degree or astrophysics degree with it. It was going to take 2 majors at once. I can't decide which one would benefit more later to get a job|||Aerospace engineering is going to be where you make your living, not physics or astrophysics, so do whichever one you're more interested in. You aren't going to find nearly as many opportunities with just a Bachelor's in physics or astrophysics, whereas, the average starting salary in Aerospace Engineering is in the mid $50,000 range for a Bachelor's degree, and the industry is still fairly robust, albeit not in the human spaceflight department.





I will agree that physics may be slightly more useful than astrophysics in the long run, but if you truly want to be marketable, consider double majoring in computer science or getting a minor in electrical engineering. It seems to me that an MBA is next to useless until you're well established in your career path, are established in a profitable company, and have decided to take the management route.|||Physics... Obama cut NASA's budget so don't plan on going to space for a while. The best 2nd degree to get along with your engineering degree is a MBA. Grunts don't make the real dough... Management does.

How to persue carreer in astrophysics?

I am doing production engineering and have deep interest in aviation/astrophysics.How can i get into those line after completing engineering?|||Go there and good luck|||Call NASA

What does majoring in Astrophysics entail (what would I learn and what general courses would I take)?

And how is the job prospect for graduates?





I was thinking about majoring in Astrophysics; the universe is just so interesting to me.|||It involves a scary amount of math. Get a book on advanced astrophysics from the library and see what's involved. I've had the rare privilege of meeting Prof Stephen Hawking and the contents of the blackboard in his office was pure ∫∫alphabetti spaghetti to a lay person. As for job prospects it's probably going to depend a lot on research grants at the appropriate academic establishments.

I want to study Astrophysics and live in Cambridge. What route and courses do I need to study first?

I would like to study astrophysics but need to know what qualifications I need to be accepted and whats the best route to study this?|||You didn't specify a country, so I'll assume you're in the US (since you posted your question in that section) and you mean Cambridge, MA. The thing is, you really need a PhD to get a job in astrophysics (PhD in physics, preferably) and there are so few jobs you'll be lucky to get one anywhere, much less in a particular city or at a particular school. Fortunately, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics hires a ton of astronomers, but even so, still a hard job to get. Don't assume you'll get to pick where you live with this job - 12 years of college and you take what you can get, not to mention it doesn't pay well.

How good is University of Colorado at Boulder for Astrophysics?

Hi, I'm considering transferring and I was wondering if CU had a good Astrophysics program?|||They seem to churn out the research papers at about the same pace as other 'leading' centers.

What undergraduate GPA is necessary for admission to a graduate PhD program in astrophysics?

What undergraduate GPA is necessary for admission to a graduate (PhD) program in astrophysics? (at universities such as Harvard, Berkeley, Columbia, Cornell, UPenn, UChicago, etc)





Of course, admission depends not only on GPA but recommendations, research experience, etc, however I'd like to get a rough idea...|||phds.org





www.gradschools.com/search-programs/as鈥?br>




http://www.dogpile.com/dogpile/ws/redir/鈥?/a>








www.inceif.org/ phd/





phoenix.edu





www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=21%26amp;鈥?鈥?Found on: Google, Bing, Yahoo





graduate-school.phds.org/find/programs鈥?鈥?Found exclusively on: Google|||For top schools, aim for at least a 3.75.

Is astrophysics mostly math and abstract ideas?

I know astrophysics requires intense application of calculus and chemistry, but do we only apply these subjects to discover or try to understand complex ideas that are mostly abstract, as in very theoretical.





Biology and Chem can be really hands on, but is astrophysics like this too, or is it just a bunch of equations?|||Astronomy and astrophysics is all fact. Thanks for the insults. You are obviously ignorant to science.|||Thanks!

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What is the cosmology branch of astrophysics?

Im quite interested in this branch of astrophysics, i just wanted to know what exactly it involves


Thanks :)|||It is about the origin, evolution, structure and future of the (observable) universe as a whole.|||Cosmology talks about the universe as a whole. Big Bang Theory, for instance is a very important topic in cosmology, whereas the orbit of a comet is another area within astrophysics but is not cosmology.





Cosmogony is similar but concerns itself with more of the origin of the universe, though not on much on the events when time was zero or time before that since science itself has no means to address it, yet.|||Cosmology and astrophysics are two separate fields with some overlap.





Cosmologists seek an overall understanding of the universe. They try to connect the smallest fundamental particle to the observable universe and beyond with one unifying principle.





Astrophysicists are concerned with mechanisms that explain how specific objects, like supernovas and black holes function internally.

What are the qualifications to join astrophysics college?

I am studying 2nd PUC.I want to join the astrophysics college.Please help me|||Hai vandu, please bear with me dear. I'm not aware of those information. Let some of our friends guide you with right informaiton. All the best for the new line that you are going to choose.|||If you belongs first or second group then you are OK. It's the branch of Physics applying the laws of Physics to the study of interstellar matter, stars and their constitution, evolution etc.,

If someone gets their degree in astrophysics, where can they start to find work? ?

What are some starting jobs in the field of astrophysics? Jobs that you can work your way up in this particular area?


Thank you, this is much appreciated!|||Hi Steph!



I am not an astrophysics graduate BUT I am an Astronomy Graduate from the Arizona State University and have a lot of friends that are astrophysics graduates. if you are going for those kind of credentials my suggestion is you take it all the way up to your doctorate degree. or at the least masters level.



anyway they all work in research for various organizations or at universities. I have my Bachelors of Science in Astronomy and I work in the research area and use my education for freelance writing. right now in Hawaii USA there is an observatory researching the activity of a Super Massive Black Hole in the center of our Galaxy and my job is to keep track of progress of the research via freelance writing and keeping a record in journals. Its not great money but I have other means of income as well. so if you major in Astrophysics there are other options but you have to have that entrepreneur drive and be creative, as well as get to know people in the industry. but yeah most of the astrophysicists I know work at educational institutions or research related jobs.



to go to college for this kind of thing you REALLY have to love Cosmology and Physics seriously otherwise don't bother and that's the best advise I can give you. because things happen and with your degree you may end up in a completely different field or even perhaps Circle K. if you love Space and Physics as well as Mathematics go for it and take hold of your career path. I wish you the best of luck. on one last note what you learn in astrophysics is amazing and whether you get a job in the field or not the education is priceless. and with a degree like that even if you don't end up in the field every employer will know how smart you are and you would never have too hard of a time finding some kind of job.|||Pretty much all astrophysics related jobs are with universities or research organisations. You'd start out by getting a postdoc position, and then gradually move your way up the ranks. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of postdoc positions to go around.|||macdonalds or wendys - lol





seriously, the government

Saturday, November 19, 2011

What are good colleges for Astrophysics?

I want to be an astrophysicist when I'm older and I want to know of some colleges to apply to. I know already want to apply to Harvard. Can anyone think of really good colleges with exceptional astronomy and astrophysics courses?|||Consider Rice University

Which of these colleges is best for Astrophysics/ Physics and Astronomy?

I just need a little more advice on which college I should attend. Right now my top three picks (not in an order) are:





Boston University


University of Arizona


Case Western





I also got accepted to:





University of Wisconsin Madison


University of Massachusetts Amherst





I wanted to major in Astrophysics/ Physics and Astronomy or something similar. I also plan to attend graduate school. Which college has the best Astrophysics/ Physics and Astronomy program? And any other suggestions or comments?





Thanks!|||Ya, everybody wants to be an astronaut! LOL





You'll be selling real estate when your 30!|||If you do plan to go to grad school in astronomy or astrophysics, major in physics in college. Math, astronomy, and computer science are also useful, but physics is essential. U of A, Wisconsin, and Amherst have the best programs of the schools you mentioned - go to one of those. Personally, I'd go with U of A, they have a top-10 astro grad program, so it shouldn't be too hard to get into another top school for grad school from there. Spend your summers doing research projects either at U of A or through REU programs.

What subjects should i study in +1 and +2 to do astronomy/astrophysics?

I dont want to study chemistry as i dont like it! So can i do astronomy/astrophysics without chemistry? My school offers physics,maths and geography together. Can i study these 3 subjects to persue a career in astronomy/astrophysics?|||I woud suggest searching for colleges that offer such a program - I can tell you I don't know of any.





Good Luck!!!

Prospect of a astrophysics and philosophy major?

I have been accepted to read astrophysics and philosophy as an undergraduate level. I am curious however, since I have profound interest in both compendium, are they both a common combination?|||They are not nearly as common a combination as they should be.





The more theoretical science gets, the more it benefits from the clarity of thought that philosophy offers, which is often lacking in the empiricism-heavy, conclusion-based realm of science. This manifests most obviously in fields that are more theoretical than astrophysics, but it could probably benefit there, as well.





It also depends what sort of philosophy you study. Something like analytical philosophy, with an emphasis on logic, would be beneficial in a general sense, but despite the fact that there will certainly be a lot of empirical number crunching in astrophysics, it doesn't necessarily have much correlation. Something like epistemology, however, might help you to evaluate data in a way which could actually help you see all that numerical data in a new light.





One way or another, these are both great interests, and as a philosophy major myself, I'd recommend getting as much of the astrophysics degree done as possible before committing to the philosophy degree, since this will give you a better opportunity to decide for yourself whether philosophy positively augments the scientific knowledge you've already got. Also, be warned that there is some extremely horrible philosophy out there with an anti-science bent (some of the French postmodernists, especially) which is quite popularized but truly misrepresents the synthesis of science and philosophy by trying to pose a conflict in meanings based on what often turn out to be the philosopher's misconceptions about science.





Science and philosophy are closely linked, and build off of each other quite nicely. It's unfortunate that most philosophers don't know much about science, and most scientists have an equally poor understanding of philosophy. Whether you decide to write, research, or simply maintain an interest in these two subjects, you could easily be an asset to both by fully embracing them.





Best of luck.|||not so common anymore. Science and philo are separating more and more. U can study both no problem, and even study the philosophy of science. But philo will not really help u much with the math that u will need.|||I know one guy who studied physics, then switched to philosophy and became a professor. I think he did it to have some ladies in the audience. Or may be he wasn't really good in physics.|||Don't decide to be another Stephen Hawking declaring God did not create the universe.

How much math is involved in advanced astonomy, physics and astrophysics?

My Science average has always been 100 but my math has always been in the high 80s low 90s, i am looking to pursue a career in astrophysics and astronomy, how hard will the math get. will my struggle in math possibly prevent me from getting a career in science? What math do you think is primarily used in astrophysics? Thanks!|||You'll use a lot of math. You'll need about three semesters of college calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and a lot of 'math for physicists'. But high 80/low 90 is fine. As long as you can get B's in your math classes (and A's in everything else) you can get into grad school for astrophysics.|||Personally I am an astrophysicist in college right now learning the exact math you're talking about. Not to sound discouraging, but the math is everything. If you can't do the math, you can't do the physics. You'll need several years of calculus, learning integration, vector calculus, things like stokes theorem, divergences and curls, the calculus of variations, then theres linear algebra, differential equations, learning how to solve partial differential equations, find eigenvalues and eigenfunctions and I would call all of that the basic math you'll need and learn in the first two years before you can start the real stuff. From there you'll need and learn things like differential geometry to learn things about the general theory of relativity, operators and wave function solutions to schroedingers equations to understand particles, integrating imaginary functions with complex analysis, fourier and laplace analysis, spherical harmonics and all of that good stuff.





I've seen countless people struggle and fail because they couldn't handle the math involved and it will only ever get harder. But if you have a true love for astronomy and are good at math I'd say go for it. Grades don't matter in this, its how you understand it.





Hope that helps.|||Well since a majority of what goes on in outer space can't be directly observed, scientists rely on math to prove things and figure stuff out. You're going to need a lot of math in pretty much any scientific career.

How long must one be in college to get a career in astrophysics?

is it true that most astrophysics jobs require a PhD? if so, how long, in years will i have to be in college?|||There aren't many jobs in the field if you don't have a PhD in astronomy or physics (preferably physics). A PhD in physics takes 10.5 years of college on average; 4 for the bachelors, another 2-3 for the masters, and another 2-6 for the PhD after that. The job market is pretty bad even if you do have a PhD; many people will spend those 8-12 years in college training for a job that won't exist when they graduate, and it doesn't pay very well considering how long you spend in school. But a PhD in physics can pay very well in industry jobs, so it's useful to have one just in case you don't make it in astronomy.

I'd like to study astronomy / astrophysics - where do I start?

I've already got a BA (Hons) in Geography, but I did Physics and Maths at A Level and regret not pursuing my interested in astronomy and astrophysics. I'm now working full time (job is totally unrelated - Marketing!) but would like to learn more about the subject, preferably with some sort of structured course. Just wondered if anyone had any tips of what I could do?





Thanks|||Check with your local colleges and universities (physics/astronomy departments) to see what they have available or what they can recommend. In the meantime, check your local libraries and read. That could give you more specificity in your desire to learn and narrow your focus to the portions of the science that most interest you. Good luck!

Does anyone know of any Universities in Queensland that do Bachelor of Astrophysics/Astronomy degrees?

I am looking to find information on a degree in either Astronomy or Astrophysics in a Queensland University, but so far I haven't had any luck. All help would be gratefully appreciated.|||There's not a lot you can do with just a bachelors in astronomy; if you're planning to go to grad school in astronomy you'd be better off majoring in physics and taking courses in astronomy (and math and computer science). That's why not many universities offer it at the bachelors level.

What colleges and universities have the best astrophysics programs for B-students?

Hey, I'm Ryan, I am 16, and I've been interested in becoming an astrophysicist for a while now, I'm just wondering, being that I am an average B-student in the bottom of my class what would be some good schools for astrophysics?|||Since you seem to have a passion for the subject, why not put in some effort and get your scores up?





That way, you'll be able to get into higher-than-average universities and be able to turn your interest into a career.





Look into Ohio University or University of Arizona.|||UC Santa Cruz


U Washington


UC Boulder


U Texas Austin


U Arizona


Penn State


SUNY Stony Brook


New Mexico State


Ohio State





But you have a little while--so work on pulling up your grades, and make sure you do well on the ACT or SAT, and take as many honors/AP classes as you can handle.|||Berkeley has a good one. But they're really selective...here's more:


http://www.a2zcolleges.com/Majors/Astrop鈥?/a>


:D

Can I take a PhD in Astrophysics after completing a full 4 year Aerospace engineering Course at University?

Can I?


I want to so I can complete my dream of finding the unknown, and solving the mysteries and full fill my purpose





Also I hear that some Aerospace Engineering Program has a Astrophysics course, is that true? If not then what should I do?|||Yes, you can be get into an astrophysics PhD program if you've completed a 4-year degree in aerospace engineering . A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university in the U.S. with at least 20 semester hours (30 quarter hours) of introductory and advanced undergraduate physics course work, is required for admission into Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (Ph.D.). Usually you should have takn one or more years of engineering physics, physical chemistry, electricity and magnetism, optics, mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, mathematical physics, differential equations, and analysis. Students can make up course deficiencies during the first graduate year.





You can take courses in astrophysics as electives or just for fun. A major in engineering, physical, biological sciences, mathematics, or computer science is best.|||I'm not really sure what classes an aerospace engineer would take. Typically, people applying to a PhD program in astrophysics have a bachelors degree in physics - the minimum coursework you'd need would be calculus I and II, linear algebra, differential equations, intro physics I and II, mathematical physics I and II, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, modern physics, and quantum mechanics (often many more courses as well). If you already know you want to go to grad school for astrophysics, you'd be much better off just majoring in physics - it would be better preparation for research.

How important is mathematics in astrophysics?

Recently I've realised how much the topic means to me and how much I'd love to be apart of the endless discoveries. I've been reading and watching a lot on Neil DeGrasse Tyson among others ( Richard Dawkins ) The problem is I'm pretty bad at maths, I know it'll hold me back so I'm wondering if there is any subdivision in astrophysics that doesn't require one to have great mathematical skills.|||Keep in mind there isn't much at all you can do in astrophysics without a PhD in astronomy or physics, and not all that many jobs even if you have one. To get one, you'd major in physics and take classes in math, astronomy, and computer science (and also have to be good at reading, writing, and public speaking). You'd take calculus I and II, math for physicists I and II, linear algebra, discrete math, and differential equations, along with a ton of math in physics. You don't have to love math, but you have to be good at it and be capable of using it every day in your work. No, there's really no field of astronomy you can do anymore that doesn't require doing physics or math at all.|||Eri is spot on as always. Like her I'm also an astrophysicists. Your will need both an undergrad degree in physics, astrophysics or maths and then a phd in astrophysics which you will need maths for. You might be able to become a telescope operator without maths as they tend to come from a wide range of backgrounds but post a rare.|||Don't bother trying to become an astrophysicist. I probably could be one, as I know the math and the physics, and I like the work, but no doors ever opened for me. So I'm not a professional astrophysicist. I'm just a fellow who can do secondary astrophysics (using someone else's data) on an amateur basis.|||%26lt;QUOTE%26gt;How important is mathematics in astrophysics?%26lt;/QUOTE%26gt;



Attempting to do astrophysics without using mathematics would be like attempting to write UNDERSTANDABLE English using only half of the letters of the alphabet.

Let's try it:



"Aeming d ahic ih ing mahemaic ld be like aeming ie ndeandable Englih ing nl half f he lee f he alhabe."



Hmmm...



Physicists in general (and astrophysicists in particular) don't use mathematics because they like to pretend to be very smart. Rather, mathematics is necessary because it's what you use to measure things.





%26lt;QUOTE%26gt;I'm pretty bad at maths%26lt;/QUOTE%26gt;



Having a good mentor is very important. If you're still young, you're in luck because you might still catch up, provided you find some good help. If you're up for it, you can pick a book and if your teachers are not up for it you may want to try visiting a forum and asking questions. Be as specific as possible so people are best able to assist you.



But it all boils down to what exactly you want to do. If you just want to do some observational astronomy, you don't need too complicated mathematics; it all comes down to logarithmic scales, and some trigonometry -- and that's pretty much it. But if you want to go a little beyond that and actually delve into phenomenology, you'll REALLY have to go into math (differential calculus, integral calculus, etc) but usually that's college level stuff. But in one case or another, you learn mathematics by finding specific examples and applying them.



Pick a good astronomy book to see how well you're dealing with it. Usually I suggest something like Zeilik and Gregory's "Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics" (try googling it or check on an online book store). It doesn't go too deep into math, but has just enough to get a glimpse of things; when you pick the references they provide, many of them do have more maths.

What school is better for astrophysics, MIT or Harvard?

I am planning to become an Astrophysicist, and I am confused upon, which school is better. Ranking wise, it is Harvard, but since MIT is a technical school, I think they have a better Astrophysics Program.





P.S.- Dont tell me to change my career, I know that they only get pay $120,000 max. It is what I want to do, money doesn't matter.|||You are a t00l.|||That sounds like an interesting job. Harvard has lower acceptance rates, and MIT does specialize in technology and engineering science. So you should choose MIT. Hope you make it|||I would go to MIT if I were you.


Hope you get there.


The chances of you getting accepted are pretty slim to none.

What topic would be fun to research for astrophysics?

I can choice anything that deals with astrophysics. Orbital, gravity, anything. i have to make a CREATIVE way to explain it. Any ideas?|||Centrifugal force. Use a bucket and swing it around to how it works.





Alternatively you could discuss the earth's rotation and show how when the you place zoom a telescope on a star it is no longer focused on that star 10 minutes later.|||have three magnets around a pole and put them up were they can float (can be done with two) and it shows the magnetically Field of like the earth with super magnets faceting north north or south south

Is it possible to get a Masters in Astrophysics at Stanford?

Im looking ahead at possible career opportunities and im curious whether i can get a degree in Astrophysics at University of Stanford.|||For a person who feels they are capable of receiving a masters degree from a somewhat prestigious university, you cant go to google, search Stanford University, and then look at their list of programs/degrees? Get your head out of your *** and stop kidding yourself. Good luck I guess.

What jobs can you get with a bachelor's degree in astrophysics?

What jobs can you get with a bachelor's degree in astrophysics? And since having this degree means you have knowledge of computer science, could you get a job as a programmer?|||You can load trucks at Wonder Bread. I think they're hiring.

What college has a good astrophysics program?

i want to major in astrophysics, and i really really want to go to uc berkeley. i think i have a pretty good chance of getting in, but i want to know what other schools i can apply to that have a good astrophysics program, just in case. i'm a high school senior right now going through the college search/application process.|||Try here, they have all the information about astrophysics programs,


="http://www.dpbolvw.net/email-1961891鈥?/div>


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What university in Australia offers astronomy/astrophysics?

I want to study astronomy and/or astrophysics in Australia, my home country. Its too expensive to go to America or somewhere, but if there is nowhere good in Australia, I'll be going to the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Any ideas on good universities I could study at?|||your answer Gotted in one min .. See Here





www.imchill.com


http://www.imchill.com





Thanks For Query on answer.yahoo.com

Where can i find a College with a good major in Astrophysics?

I need to find a college with a great classes in Astrophysics, Physics, Planetary Science and Astronomy or anything of those subjects with Engineering would be great to know.|||How about Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana? Lots of astronauts attended there. It is known for its engineering programs, too.|||in aast in cairo

How feasible is it to get a PHD in astrophysics?

Hi, I am currently a 3rd year physics student with a GPA of 3.5 and I've come to realize that my true interests lie in Astrophysics. The problem I'm facing is that a PHD in this type of physics seems incredibly competitive and that only "geniuses" are able to get accepted and do well in it.


So, how feasible is it to get a PHD in astrophysics?


Thanks in advance|||Very feasible if you are motivated. Your GPA is adequate, but realize that graduate school is about twice as hard as undergraduate school. This is not an exaggeration, if you can comfortably get all your current work done and have about 20-40 hours of free waking time available, then you can probably handle graduate school. If most of your waking time is spent keeping up, then graduate school may be too much.





Do a lot of research as to which colleges have PhD programs in Astrophysics. You may have to move to a different area to get into a program that will accept you.





Now, a PhD in Astrophysics is one thing, doing something with it is completely different. Do you see what careers are available that utilize Astrophysics the way you want to use it? If it's in the academic circle, you'd better be one of those "geniuses" or you may have to start out as a narrator at a local planetarium, that's not a put-down, it's just reality. Good luck.

What school is better for astrophysics, MIT or Harvard?

I am planning to become an Astrophysicist, and I am confused upon, which school is better. Ranking wise, it is Harvard, but since MIT is a technical school, I think they have a better Astrophysics Program.





P.S.- Dont tell me to change my career, I know that they only get pay $120,000 max. It is what I want to do, money doesn't matter.|||Apply to both. If you actually get into both, then make the decision. Both schools are extremely hard to get into and look for different things in potential students (other than high grades).





$120k is a lot of money, I'm not really sure what the point of your PS note is.|||You can never go wrong with Harvard. Look at the guy who made facebook. Is he successful enough for you?

Is it possible to pursue astrophysics and get a good job later? Best universities for undergrads?

Well, I need to really plan for my future. First of all, I need to know that after getting out of school, should I pursue astrophysics or major in physics or what? then I need to know, that is there any scope for me to get a good job later from this and earn well?|||Well if you receive a doctorate in astrophysics or any field in physics.





You could possibly do civil engineering, aerospace engineering, architectural engineering.


There's many fields open to you if you have a higher physics knowledge and possibly knowledge of calculus.


You can tutor children, or senior students. 150$ an hour where I live. From all students.


150x7 hours.


That's a lot of money in one day.|||There are very few jobs in astrophysics if you don't have a PhD in physics or astronomy, and not many even if you do. If you do want a PhD, a major in physics is the best way to go, and a PhD in physics if you can study astronomy while you do it (many schools have combined the departments); there are more jobs with a PhD in physics. And you'll need to spend your college summers doing research at your school or others to make sure that's really what you want to do with your life and to get experience for grad school.

What are some of the best books for studying astrophysics?

I am interested in astrophysics. I am college educated, but I'm a novice scientist. I can comprehend anything with the right resources. I'm looking for books that are concise, yet fairly easy to follow, study and read.|||A Brief History Of Time, The Universe in a Nutshell, Black Holes, Babby Universes and Other Essays - Stephen Hawking





The Elegant Universe - Brian Greene|||the big black bible should tell you that if you dont take care of the earth, it will do away with you... it doesnt take a genius to figure that one out...|||Various introductory astronomy text books. Most intro courses are geared towards non-science majors satisfying their science requirement, so right up your alley!





My favorite (though I have been out of teaching the stuff for 4 years now) is The Cosmic Perspective. Unlike other texts, this one actually used planetary scientists to write the planetary chapters, and astrophysicists to write the cosmology, stellar evolution and galactic dynamics chapters.





It is a GREAT book. Get it used, unless you don't mind shelling out $100.





Another excellent book assembled by the same guy focuses on Astrobiology. Might as well get "Life in the Universe" since NASA (and astrobiology with it) will pretty much be gone by 2012 on its current course.

How good do your marks generally have to be to get into an undergraduate astrophysics program in Canada?

Not the minimum average for being accepted into a science program at the university but the acceptance average specifically for an astrophysics program. Info about Queen's specifically would be great...|||If you want to become an astrophysicist, it's not important to take any astrophysics courses or major in astrophysics as an undergraduate. It is far more important to learn as much math, physics, and computer science as you can. Studying astrophysics at the undergraduate level is just a distraction from what you really need to learn, and you can't really learn astrophysics until you've achieved a certain mastery of math and physics.|||Why don't you write to the schools and find out for yourself?


.

What are the top universities with a good Astrophysics major?

Hey I'm almost going to go to university and my Major will be astrophysics. Really need help thanks.|||I dont think he does it for money, so who cares about pay. He will be contributing towards mankind and educating , good for you my friend.





It depends what country? UK or US or Canada?





In UK , UCL, Manchester, Imperial, Cambridge, Durham, Liverpool to name a few





In US, Princeton, Columbia, Arizona has a good one!, Cal, and list goes on.





Ask your Science teacher they can assist you.





Canada Uof T and even St Mary has good astronomy programmes





Good luck and congrats!|||Astrophysics is not a good major if you want to get a good job. There are more astrophysicists than there are jobs for them. Consider majoring in aerospace engineering and you can earn $100,000 when you graduate.

Can anyone suggest good documentaries about Space or astrophysics?

I am looking for some recent documentaries about either space, cosmology or astrophysics.


I prefer non-historical documentaries (so not history of the space program)





Thanks a lot!|||There are lots of brilliant documentaries out there about these topics.


- The universe (almost 60 episodes now, ranging from formation of solar systems to space wars). Highly recommended series.





The BBC has some of the best documentaries ever made:


-Space Odyssey - Voyage to the planets: describes the journey of a crew to almost every planet in our solar system with landings on most of the planets or moons. Also shows the dangers of spaceflight.


-BBC Space: Interesting 6-part documentary about how matter forms to the future of space exploration.





-Mars rising and Race to Mars are 2 documentaries somewhat similar about how humans go to Mars.


-Origins: From the birth of earth over aliens back to the beginning.





There are loads more, most of them really worth watching.|||http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/qu鈥?/a>

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|||I don't usually suggest You Tube, but take a look at this EXCELLENT vid , a long one, a lecture on cosmology...Lawrence Krauss discusses how things work 'the universe is flat, it has zero total energy,


and it could have begun from nothing" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PL鈥?/a>|||If you want to learn something, instead of being entertained, try a DVD course from the Teaching Company. You can probably get them from your public library for free.|||'A Universe From Nothing' by Lawrence Krauss, AAI 2009





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PL鈥?/a>





I just noticed the previous answer is a link to the same video :(

Does anyone know of a good high school astrophysics curriculum?

I'm homeschooled and I'm starting electives this year. I'm extremely interested in space, and I want to be an astrophysist, so I thought a small astrophysics course would make a great elective. The problem is, I can't find one. Anybody got any ideas on where I could find one? Thanks!|||Some information is below.

What would be the best college for astrophysics?

I want to go to college for astrophysics and i would like to know what would be the best place to go.


I would also like to know what courses i should take and what type of degree I would need.|||If you want to be an astronomer/astrophysicist, you'll want to major in physics in college, with a double major or minor in astronomy and math. However, there really aren't any jobs available in astronomy if you don't have a Ph.D.





As an undergrad, you'll need as much physics as possible, with math, astronomy, and a little computer science. You'll want to spend your summers doing research, and try to publish a paper, to help your grad school applications.





Grad school in astronomy takes 4-8 years, depending on the field, your advisor, your data, etc. So it's 8 - 12 years of college before you get a job - and astronomers typically do one or two post-doctoral positions, which are 2 or 3 year research appointments before getting a 'real' job. So it will take awhile, and astronomy doesn't pay that much - compared to a doctor or lawyer at least, who spend less time in school. So don't do it unless you really love it.





Remember that you won't stay in the same university for both undergrad and graduate school - it's not recommended. But the schools below have good grad programs, and going to them will help you get into one of the others.





Good schools:





Harvard


Berkeley


CalTech


UCLA


UC Santa Cruz


UT Austin


Cornell


Columbia


MIT


U of Hawaii


U of Chicago


U of Toronto


UMass Amherst


U of Arizona





up-and-coming programs:


Ohio State


Clemson U


U of Michigan


U of Maryland


U of Virginia


U of Colorado (Boulder)|||i hope you are no older than 9 or 10...otherwise you have a lot more homework to do than worrying about where to study|||Perhaps the best places to study astronomy (if you are REALLY serious about hands on training) are the schools with the best telescopes. Here is a list of links to just a few of them.|||Massachusett Institute of Technology (MIT)

How much Chemistry should know a Physics undergrad ,who s interested in Astrophysics and Space technology?

I m a physics undergrad with a major interest in astrophysics and space technology and I m not found of Chemistry at all.The question is for those of you who are at least grad student or higher . I m quite F level in Chem.and the worst of it is that I can hardly force myself to dig deeper in Chem.Thanks!|||Um, look around here and see if you like this much chemistry.





http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hba鈥?/a>





Then this tutorial on Remote Sensing. Remember, astronomers never ever get to touch the objects they are viewing.





http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Front/tofc.html|||I did Chemistry at GCSE (age 16) but from then on I only did physics/astrophysics and maths. It never made any difference to me, so don't worry!





Post 16, I got top marks in 3 A-Levels (Physics, Maths and Geography), a First class Honours degree BSc Physics with Astrophysics and a MSc in Astrophysics.|||My major is Honours in Physics, Astrophysics specialization, and to tell you the truth, you only need level 1 chemistry to persue your studies, as long as you can pass that you're good to go...I personally hate chemistry, but a big part of physics is related to it, they are all sciences and they interact in a way or another...so for example when studying electrons and atoms you need some understanding of how they work in a chemical sense in order to fully understand the physical sense...but again, all you need is level 1 chem, that's it...

What kind of math is used in Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics?

I am okay in math but not the best.





I am okay in Geometry but strong in Algebra.





I am also very interested in Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics.





What kind of math is employed by the following sciences?





If I am not a super genius in math, is their no hope for me as a Physicist?





And lastly, I am a sophomore in High School. What are some good books to delve more into these sciences?








Thanks!|||From what I've seen, it's more algebra than anything else. Second most common is calculus, then linear algebra (vectors and such), then Partial and Ordinary Differential equations. You'll find bits and pieces from other disciplines of mathematics as well.





You don't have to be a super genius in math to understand these subjects (it certainly wouldn't hurt), or even a regular genius. If it is what you are interested in, I'd say go for it. There are always opportunities to get help if you're struggling.





As far as books go, the work of people like Richard Feynman, Carl Sagan, Brian Greene, George Gamow, and Roger Penrose are good reads.|||*Albert Einstein

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Details on Astrophysics and Astronomy and Jobs in those fields of work?

I want to know if Astrophysics is the same as Astronomy because I want to be a Astronomer and if it is the same, and details on how it is different.





How is Astronomy different from Astrophysics?


What field of work will provide more jobs for my future?


What will be the steps and how many years of work will it take in universities?


If I get a PhD and a Doctorate degree in Astronomy, will I still be able to get a job in Astrophysics?|||How is Astronomy different from Astrophysics?



Modern Astronomy is Astrophysics....same thing.



What field of work will provide more jobs for my future?



Same thing....not a lot of jobs in astro...highly competitive. I would compare it to wanting to be a NFL player except for nerds.



What will be the steps and how many years of work will it take in universities?

1. Get a BSc in Physics.

2. While doing that, suck up to profs to fill their lab positions and do meaningless research (busy work...) get me a coffee.

3. While doing the above, teach yourself everything you would learn if you were a computer programming undergrad.

4. 3rd summer... Memorize every physics equation you have ever seen and take the Physics GRE.

4yrs



5. Get into grad school.

6. Get owned in grad school.

7. Get Phd.

4-6yrs



8. Postdoc

9. Do busy work and pick up lunch for some old guy that is near senile.



1-4yrs



10. Job- Become a professor and start the whole ridiculous cycle over again.



If I get a PhD and a Doctorate degree in Astronomy, will I still be able to get a job in Astrophysics?



Once again same thing. Phd is a doctorate. If you are lucky enough or stupid enough to finish a Phd in astro, jobs are hard to come by...only the best of the best nerds make it this far.



Go to college, take some classes find out what you like. If astro is what you like...then go for it...but hear the warning. Becoming a crackhead living on the streets on LA would probably be a better choice.

What do you suggest I should do if I want to study astrophysics in university?

I am going to college next year and I am really fascinated about cosmology, I have been ever since I was about 6. I want to study astrophysics in university but I want to improve my chance of becoming succesful in astrophysics. For my a levels I have chosen chemistry, physics, maths and biology. I want to know what books I should read, what activities I should do etc, to improve my knowledge and ability of astrophysics.|||Sounds like you've got the basics down - you need to take calculus and physics. Biology won't help, and chemistry won't help much. If you want to study astrophysics, remember that you'll need a PhD - there really aren't any jobs in astronomy if you don't have one. And to get into graduate school for astrophysics, you need to major in physics. And don't forget to take at least one computer science course as well.

What carrier pays more per year, Astrophysics or Astronomy?

I love astronomy and simply considering going into that field. But astrophysics also is in my interest. Yes, i know the difference and like both. So what will decide my future? Money. Which one is economically wiser to chose?|||'Career'. They're basically the same thing - very few astronomers can get away without doing a lot of physics these days. The days of observing something and reporting on it without trying to interpret it are past. And neither of them pay well considering how long you'll be in school - 8-12 years of college, and then most people spend the first 5 years or so after the PhD doing various post-doc positions, which pay about 40k a year. If you can get a faculty job, that starts out between 40k and 70k, but those are hard to get - there are far more PhDs who want to teach than there are jobs for them, and many are teaching making 20k a year without benefits (yes, with a PhD). And NASA doesn't pay a lot more, if you can get that job - there are even fewer of those. In fact, a lot of astronomers leave the field to make more money elsewhere within 10 years of getting their PhD - they simply can't get a job in their own field.|||Astronomy is a general term, astrophysics being a specialty. I am a professional astronomer and cosmologist (another specialty), but first and foremost, I am a physicist, and that is my PhD. A lot of my time is spent in teaching astronomy and the remainder in cosmology research. As someone else mentioned, don't go into it for the money, there is very little, unless you are good enough to write something like A Brief History of Time. We can add slightly to grant money and salary by such things as "talking head" stuff for the Science Chanel etc., but TV companies don't pay a lot, and most of us are wary of being taken out of context in many cases. TV loves the spectacular, and is liable to overdo such subjects as the end of the world. Do it, like most of us, for the love of the job, and an unshakeable curiosity about the Universe. I would not change a thing!|||Astronomists discover stuff. Astrophysicists find out how it works.








Therefore, the astrophysics section tends to pay more, but it is considerably more difficult work.





You'll have to do more fringe science than normal science that tends to drive people to a Doc-Brown-from-back-to-the-future level of insanity. namely my physics teacher from high school.|||astrophysics by a country mile, though a major component of astrophysics is astronomy so you won't be missing out anyway, astrophysics uses total knowledge of the universe and planets to determine logic and math for our planet for scientific and commercial uses.|||They are essentially the same thing -- no one makes any distinction between them nowadays. And nobody chooses either because of the big bucks! If you want to make money, become an engineer.

What kind of job can I get with an astrophysics degree?

I want to work with NASA someday, even if it is far-fetched, and I was wondering what I should do in college do accomplish this. I was think either majoring in aerospace engineering or astrophysics, but I feel like astrophysics can't promise the job opportunities that the engineering degree could.|||There's no point in majoring in astronomy or astrophysics as an undergraduate.



Learn as much math, computer programming, physics and engineering as possible. Then apply for graduate school at one of the dozen major universities that do research in astrophysics, and go for a PhD. These programs require a math and physics background, but not astronomy. It won't hurt to take a course in astronomy, but it won't help much either.

What high school classes are required for astronomy, and astrophysics?

I'm going into the eleventh grade and want a career in astronomy, or astrophysics but I don't know what classes I need to take for them. Plz help!|||Just your basic core classes, but try to do honors science and math (particularly physics) and succeed in them. If your high school has an astronomy class, then take that, but I doubt it.

What is the difference between Astronomy and Cosmology and Astrophysics?

do cosmologists study the planets,stars etc. and phenomenon like gravitational force and others


what does an astronomer study and astrophysics deals with what?|||Cosmology refers to the universe as a whole - someone who studies the origin and evolution of the universe. It's not a degree - you could work in cosmology with a degree in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics. Astrophysics has a bit less astronomy and a bit more physics, astronomy has a bit less physics, but there's no clear line between them. Astronomers and astrophysicists study stars, planets, galaxies, etc.

What do people do after completing a PHD in astrophysics or something related to space?

If someone completes a phD in astrophysics and gives his own idea too, what sort of jobs does he get? Are they high paid, average, or low? How exciting is the job?|||They generally get jobs delivering pizzas for several months and then move up to Burger King manager.|||and the iddiot who asked the question has picked it as a best answer


unbelieveable

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|||You don't do graduate work in any field as job training. You do it because you're interested in the field, and would probably do it anyway, whether they paid you or not.





In the Real World (TM), Master's degrees are highly saleable, while PhDs are viewed as research people only, and have limited options outside academia.|||Usually a "postdoctoral fellowship", a temporary job of one to four years duration at a university or observatory. The job usually involves full time research with a group, headed by a professor or senior person. The pay is about $50,000 per year. The usual case nowdays is to have two or three such positions before getting a permanent job.|||From my experience they usually work at larger corporations such as NASA, JPL (the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Ball Company Aerospace Division, CRESST (Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology), or at a college/university.





They first must do a post-doc for a few years, and often do multiple at once to maximize their pay. After a few post-doc positions and while working one, they begin to climb the hierarchy of their department eventually leading to department head, or look for tenured positions within academia. Once contracted and/or tenured many do not change positions.





Aside from department/project heads, many astronomers will never achieve the highest pay rate reaching in the $200,000.00s, but many lead/head researchers fall just short of $100,000.00, like at the $90,000.00 mark. When I worked at a school in their Astro Dept, I dealt with entering figures of their paychecks, and no one made less than $75,000.00. Most people at the school were known as either associates (more money) or assistants (less money) and did not make over $100,000.00 (though, as stated earlier, they made just right under).|||About a third stay in science. The will do a number of fix term post doc positions before "hopefully" getting a secure position. Others go into teaching, banking, programming and a whole host of other jobs.





Note that despite what has been said above. Holders of PhD have demonstarted that they capible of creative independent thinking. This is not something that is required of an Msc. Also Msc are becoming quite common so PhD are becoming the new MSc.|||i try to write the answers your problem in my blog http://www.mystructuredsettlement.co.cc you can see any problem in my blog.

Is astrophysics a good major to study if I want it to be part of my career?

What are the practical jobs that involve astrophysics? I don't care about getting rich but as long as the pay is decent enough for me to get by, I would like to have a job that I really enjoy, and at the moment I am really interested in the realm of astrophysics. Also, what level of education do I need and what is the career path that I need to take?Your help is much appreciated!|||You seem confused... Generally to be an astrophysicist you need a PhD. Maybe you are young... See this video:





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLSW_8Vlh鈥?/a>|||Well your careers in astrophysics are fairly limited.





Astronomers, people who work on the space program, I think that is about it.





In the near future there will more commercial work, as space becomes commercialised.





If you really love it then do it.|||Most astrophysics jobs are at either space research companies, NASA, and universities. You're not gonna starve but don't think you'll be living like Donald Trump or Bill Gates either.





Some universities have an astrophysics major while others have just a couple astrophysics courses. Either path will work. The latter would require you to take numerous complimentary courses and you might need to connect the material to astrophysics yourself. You would need a Ph.D to have any kind of success in this field

What are the careers to pursue, involving theoretical astrophysics?

Greetings. I request an elaborate answer, about the careers available for a PhD in theoretical astrophysics. I also request information about the courses and institutions to get along with to hold a PhD degree in the subject. Serious answers appreciated.


Thanks in advance!|||Nasim -





I think you will find that a degree in astrophysics (and Eri is right - the degree is not really in "astrophysics", but something like physics, astronomy, or science) will create new opportunities for you that cannot be predicted. With such a degree, you can do almost anything you want to do, for example:





1. Astrophysicist at a government sponsored facility, like JPL or Sandia or Bell.





2. Adjunct professor in astrophysics working toward a tenured position at any one of several recognized universities, like Caltech, Stanford, Purdue, Michigan, Georgia Tech, MIT, etc etc





3. Scientist at engineering firms that do contract work for NASA, like Lockheed, Boeing, etc





4. Astronomer or astronomy professor





5. High school teacher





6. About a jillion other options that will become clear as you proceed. I can think of several, like writer, musician, artist, pilot, plumber, ... whatever - the point is, there will be no doors closed to you. You will be able to do whatever you want to do.





As far as academic options, I have listed several schools above that I'm sure would be able to help you. You can count on a lot of math and a lot of physics and chemistry. You are probably not concerned about those classes, but the work load will be significant. You can certainly contact the admissions offices of those schools to see what kind of programs are available. If you are not in the U.S., you can do the same for any schools anywhere I would think.





Best of luck. The point is to set a goal and work for it. You can always modify it later, when you see what options open up to you. There will be thousands of them.|||very very beautiful Answer

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|||I'm doing a degree in astrophysics at the moment (MSci Astrophysics), and there are some students studying for theoretical physics in my department.





The actual final degree is awarded in a specific subject depending on exactly which modules you take in second and third (and fourth) years of the degee.





For example, in their third years; a straight physics student would take Solid State Physics and Advanced Electromagnetic Theory; an astrophysics student would take Cosmology %26amp; Extragalactic Astrophysics and Physics of Stellar Evolution; and a theoretical physics student would take Quantum Field Theory and Mathematical Methods for General Relativity.





Everyone gets a few modules that are open, as in they can be taken from any field of physics (or even math and chemistry). So I could take modules that usually theoreticians take, or vice-versa.





As for careers; many people either end up in the financial sector, teaching and research (you usually teach to pay for your research PhD), or go into industry (engineering, R%26amp;D, etc).





All physics degrees are *very* mathematical though, so employers looking for high levels of numerical competency and logical training will like you for this degree.|||Theoretical astrophysics is a way of approaching a field, not a field in itself. You would hold a PhD in physics (or maybe astrophysics, but physics is better) and apply the methods of theory to a particular field - particle physics, solar physics, galactic astronomy, cosmology, etc.





In the US, theorists are hired by colleges and universities, national labs, and NASA. Start by getting a bachelors degree in physics (a math double major would be good). Then go on for a PhD in physics at an institution that would let you do astronomy as well - like U Chicago, CalTech, MIT, Princeton, Yale, or UT Austin.|||You could be the first to model stars with weird compositions that nobody has ever solved the equations for before. Perhaps you can find a composition for a stellar atmosphere that would reflect most of the radiation back into the star's interior. Wonder what happens then? Or maybe you could figure out what happens when a star core is rotating one way and its envelope is initially rotating in the opposite direction. You might discover that the right combination of supernova and black holes can produce a coherent neutrino beam and propose that such beams be searched for (with, of course, a hefty government subsidy). It's important to understand such things, so be sure to do it right.|||You should be a rocket scientist your very intelligent

What's the difference between Astronomy and Astrophysics?

Judging by the names, my guess would be:





Astrophysics: Study of the physics and structure of the sky and what it contains (planets, etc).





Astronomy: General study of the sky, planets, etc and general behaviour of it without going too deeply into the physical make-up of it.|||astronomy:The scientific study of the universe and the objects in it, including stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Astronomy deals with the position, size, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial objects. Astronomers analyze not only visible light but also radio waves, x-rays, and other ranges of radiation that come from sources outside the Earth's atmosphere





astrophyscis:


The branch of astronomy that deals with the physical and chemical processes that occur in stars, galaxies, and interstellar space. Astrophysics deals with the structure and evolution of stars, the properties of interstellar space and its interactions with systems of stars, and with the structure and dynamics of clusters of stars such as galaxies.|||space is really big





there r lots of stars in space





there r aliens in space. they r really cool|||space

What is the difference between Astrophysics and Astronomy?

What is the difference between Astronomy and Astrophysics?


I'm so interested in this kind of area and I want to know which course is more for me.


I got the impression that Astrophysics is much more "mathsy" but I'm not overly sure of which bits are different....|||astronomy is the study of the universe. astrophysics is the study of how the universe works, and the laws that take place thereof.|||Astronomy is still a sub-field of physics, so you'd need to take physics and math to study it. There's no big distinction between astronomy and astrophysics anymore - astronomers used to use observe things and publish their observations, but that's not as accepted anymore - they now use physics to explain what they're looking at. Most astronomers got degrees in physics, and that's a good thing for them.|||Astrophysics (Greek: Astro - meaning "star", and Greek: physis – φύσις - meaning "nature") is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties (luminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition) of celestial objects such as galaxies, stars, planets, exoplanets, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions. The study of cosmology addresses questions of astrophysics at scales much larger than the size of particular gravitationally-bound objects in the universe.





Because astrophysics is a very broad subject, astrophysicists typically apply many disciplines of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, and atomic and molecular physics. In practice, modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics. The name of a university's department ("astrophysics" or "astronomy") often has to do more with the department's history than with the contents of the programs. Astrophysics can be studied at the bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. levels in aerospace engineering, physics, or astronomy departments at many universities.


--------------------------------------…


Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe.





Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. Prehistoric cultures left behind astronomical artifacts such as the Egyptian monuments and Stonehenge, and early civilizations such as the Babylonians, Greeks, Chinese, and Indians performed methodical observations of the night sky. However, the invention of the telescope was required before astronomy was able to develop into a modern science. Historically, astronomy has included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, the making of calendars, and even astrology, but professional astronomy is nowadays often considered to be synonymous with astrophysics.





During the 20th century, the field of professional astronomy split into observational and theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of celestial objects, which is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented towards the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. The two fields complement each other, with theoretical astronomy seeking to explain the observational results, and observations being used to confirm theoretical results.





Amateur astronomers have contributed to many important astronomical discoveries, and astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs can still play an active role, especially in the discovery and observation of transient phenomena.





Ancient astronomy is not to be confused with astrology, the belief system which claims that human affairs are correlated with the positions of celestial objects. Although the two fields share a common origin and a part of their methods (namely, the use of ephemerides), they are distinct.|||Astronomy is the study of the stars planets and the universe, now you figure out what the others do, that way you are using your brain for a change, just think you could find out something with out having to ask some one else for a change.

What classes should i take for Astrophysics and Physical Cosmology?

Im in high school right now and i want to pursue a career involving Astrophysics and Physical Cosmology.


What would some good high school classes to take be for these?


To follow through, what would some good college courses to take be? Many thanks.|||My husband is an astronomer who went to Caltech and Berkley. In high school he took classes with a lot of math and science. He took physics, trigonometry, calculus, and all the higher-level science classes you can take. Before him, I had never met an astronomer.|||Math, physics, chemistry, English in high school. See the bulletin of the college for what to take in college.

Is Astrophysics have anything to do with string theory and quantum theory?

I mean, do you study/use string theory and quantum physics in astrophysics?|||Yes. When studying how the universe was formed, the Big Bang theory was proposed, in which the universe was believed to start off from a tiny speck smaller than a neutron, and it inflated and expanded up till today. (it is still expanding)





Anyway, quantum theory allows us to undestand what actually happened during the first few moments of the big bang, such as the formation of particles, why there are more matter than anti-matter etc., while string theory suggests that everything was made up of tiny 'strings', and perhaps the probable existance of other parallel universes and dimensions. (different types of string theory proposed different number of dimensions)





To look at it in another way, to study something that's huge and large, we have to start out small.=)

What is the difference between astrophysics & applied physics?

What is the scope in each subject? Can one transition from a Bachelors in astrophysics to a masters in applied physics and vice versa? What are career prospects in each? Are the curriculums and syllabus for each degree similar?|||I did a general BSc (Hons) in Physics and Astro was just a module. We had a very strong postgrad Astro section* but at undergrad level it was all pretty much pari passu with the solid state and QM and numerical methods stuff. Put it this way: after I graduated (magna) in physics I moved to a Masters in RF and microwave telecomms engineering, which I gained handily. If you're smart enough to be doing undergrad physics of any stripe, you're probably smart enough to move between sub-disciplines.





Will you become rich thereby? No, probably not. Will you be tolerably well-remunerated? Odds-on. We're in a knowledge-based economy, and in that environment merely knowing the difference between a kilowatt and a kilowatt hour marks you as superior to 99.9% of the human race.





* a certain guitarist finally got his PhD - in re Zodiacal dust - from my alma mater

Astrophysics???????

i really want to study astrophysics (kinda a rocket scientest)


i would like to know how many years would i have to take in college to get your Phd and what would be the absolute best college??





serious answers only .





im very fascinate by the stars and space.|||Well, astrophysics is a really general field. If you want to literally be a rocket scientist, going to Caltech is your best bet because they sort of own JPL, or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. If you want to study gravitational waves, then you want to go to UF or one of the other LIGO/LISA collaborators. It takes roughly 5 years to get a PhD, but that depends on what you are studying. If you want to do straight up astronomy, you definately want to go to Arizona or Illinois because they have really good obsevatories. Another thing you need to think about is if you want to do experimental or theoretical astrophysics. Experimental would be LIGO/LISA if you know anything about those programs, and theoretical would be stellar evolution, binary black hole systems, so on and so forth. Right now I am thinking about grad school for astrophysics as well, and UF is looking like a really good option because they are well funded, they have a good astrophysics program, and I don't feel intimidated as I would at a really prestigeous university, like MIT. Hope this helps.|||You would need to spend 4 years at an undergraduate school to get a degree in physics or astrophysics, and then another 3 or 4 years in graduate school to get your doctoral degree (depending on whether you start graduate work at college).





The best schools for astronomy and astrophysics are the schools you would go to in general anyway - Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Cornell, and Yale all have good astronomy programs, but a lot of college professors recommend that you do your undergraduate degree in physics and keep your options open, so consider schools like RPI that do not have full astronomy programs for undergraduates but do offer a good physics curriculum with the chance to concentrate in astrophysics.|||I took 11 years to go from High School to a Ph.D. in Physics.





I messed around a great deal, but I had a great time doing it.





My best advice I have ever heard or given about school is try to only take classes you like, or you may wind up qualified for a high paying job that you will really hate.





By the way most rocket scientists are actually engineers.|||4 years|||just writing to say thanks to Max

Astrophysics................?

I'm going to be a freshman in high school and am interested in how the universe works, dimension, and time travel. Is this considered astrophysics? And what is the difference between astrophysics and astronomy? And is this a good hobby? What info do I need to understand it? Thanks :)|||Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties (luminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition) of celestial objects such as galaxies, stars, planets, exoplanets, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions. The study of cosmology addresses questions of astrophysics at scales much larger than the size of particular gravitationally-bound objects in the universe. Because astrophysics is a very broad subject, astrophysicists typically apply many disciplines of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, and atomic and molecular physics. In practice, modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics.





Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe.





Yes, you have an excellent hobby! Keep it up! You essentially need to understand everything or at least the majority of topics mentioned above that cover astrophysics. Take a lot of science and mathematics courses in high school if you truly want to become an astrophysicist. Good luck!