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27 November 2014
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Last updated: 08 May 2006 1124 BST
Pic: Mark Lawrik-Thompson
Graphic: How to be an astronomer
Norfolk astronomer and Chairman of the Norwich Astronomical Society Mark Thompson is here to explain what you need to do to become an expert on space.
Picture: Do you want to be an astronomer?
Do you want to be an astronomer?

If you fancy being an astronomer, find out what you need to do to be one, with local expert, Mark Thompson.


How do I become an astronomer? The first thing you need to decide is why are you interested in astronomy?

The answer to this question will decide which route would be best for you.

Basically there are two types of astronomer - amateur and professional.

Picture: Actor Sam Neil explores space
Actor Sam Neil explores Space

If you just want to spend your time looking through telescopes and maybe getting involved in research, then you should consider becoming an amateur astronomer.

But if you really want to learn how things work, then you will need to be a professional astronomer.

The amateur astronomer

Like me, there are hundreds of people across the world that are amateur astronomers. The word amateur means that you do something as a hobby rather than as a job.

Take me as an example. I spend many nights in my observatory at home taking pictures of the sky and presenting measurements to a number of professional research programs.

Along with doing the practical side of it, I give talks to a wide range of people, am involved with running the local astronomical society and am the astronomer for this website.

Getting started

There are other amateur astronomers who look at the skies with nothing more than binoculars.

Picture: telescope
A telescope like this is worth buying if you want to be an astronomer

You can do exactly what you want from looking through telescopes, all the way through to studying and teaching others.

If you want to become an amateur astronomer, take a look at the getting started pages to get some more ideas.

More importantly, get your parents or guardian to take you along to your local astronomical society and find out what they get up to.

The Professional Astronomer

Professional astronomers do a similar job to some of the advanced amateurs around the world, except they have bigger telescopes to use!

The professional astronomers don't really look through telescopes anymore.

Most professional observatories are computerised, so the astronomers look at the recorded information and try to understand the way things work.

Much of their time is spent in front of a computer screen looking at measurements.

If you fancy doing this, then you have the makings of a professional astronomer.

Subjects at school

At school you need to concentrate on mathematics and physics. You need to do the same subjects at A-Level too, with other science or computer/technology courses.

It's also useful to have other skills too. For example, some astronomers design new instruments or write computer programs.

Picture: Pupil studying the computer
If you are a whizz at computers, then astronomy could be for you

There are even some astronomers who know lots about chemistry or geology which is very useful in understanding the conditions on other planets.

After A-Level, the next step is to university and an astrophysics degree.

After this, you can do higher level degrees and research positions.

There are aren't many jobs for astronomers so there's quite a lot of competition. You often don't get paid much either!

Whichever route you take, whether you become an amateur or professional astronomer, as long as you are enjoying what you do then you have made the right choice.

Good luck and follow your dreams.

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On this site

Astronomy index

Ask the astronomer

International Space Station

Make a rocket

Make a sundial

New Planet

Planet Jupiter

Planet Mars

The Moon

Planets Pluto, Neptune and Uranus

Planet Saturn

Planet Venus

The Star of Bethlehem

The Sun

Your questions answered

Venus passes in front of the Sun

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