Anybody an astrophysicist? What do they do?
114392
Check out college websites. Astros is the solar system. Hence astronate. (cosmos is the universe Russians are cosmonaunts).\nOne research is into the cosmic ray bursts. Where they come from and what is the mechanism they are created. If Earth ever gets a direct hit, that side would be cooked. \nNeutron stars are a combination of these pulsing signals from space and the fact some come from old Nova sites. Hence the physics suggests a very dense, spinning remnant of a star.
99849
Light is one form of electromagnetic radiation, I think it is pretty obvious how light is important to astronomers.\n\nBut sometimes just seeing the object isnt enough, we want to know more.\nFor example, if we wanted to know the chemical composition of a far-off star we can do this by analysing the emmision spectrum of the star.  When electrons around the nucleus of particular atoms get excited they jump up to higher energy levels.  When the electrons fall back to the ground state, the give off a photon of light (not necesarily in the visible spectrum) of a specific wavelength.  We can analyse that light given off by a star and compare it to the ligh given off by known elemetns, from this we can figure out what stars are made out of.\n\nThe electromagnetic spectrum is so broad, there are so many things we can learn by studying the EM waves coming in from outer space.
171995
3K background radiation measurement instruction:\n\n\n(1) take a full spectrum snapshot of the sky sphere.\n\n(2) substract all known active radiation sources (stars)\n\n\n(3) take the resulting frequency spectrum I(n) and\n\n(3.1) assume that you know allmost each existing active radiation source\n\n(3.2) assume that the universe doesn't radiate outwards and nothing radiates into it\n\n(3.3) then you can speak of a radiation field equilibrium and are allowed to apply 'blackbody radiation' theory\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_body\n\n\n(4) apply 'blackbody radiation' theory to the frequency spectrum: I(n) of step (3)\n\n(4.1) fit Planck's function of blackbody radiation: I(T,n) by variation of the remaining variable T\n\n\n(5) if you get a proper fit, call the temperature T, the temperature of the universe.\n\n\nuntil now, all such measurements led to T = 3 Kelvin.\nBut this doesn't mean that empty space would have a temperature itself.
865254
To become a professional astronomer usually requires a PhD.  To get into an astronomy PhD program you need a bachelors degree in a related field.  Most astronomers I know did their BS or BA in physics.  A couple did electrical engineering.  Some did a BS in astronomy.  In my opinion, a physics BS gives you a better grounding in the skills you need in an astronomy PhD program, especially if you did a summer or two of astronomy research as an undergraduate.
314345
I assume you are speaking of astrophysics because all of the other fields are easy to discern. \nI cannot remember what physicist said it but one of them said that Discovery and hope are good for the soul. For me that is very true.
1159295
Astronomy is generally considered a subfield of physics, although it is distinct from the related field of astrophysics.  (One way of differentiating between astronomy and astrophysics is that astronomy deals with what stars do and astrophysics deals with how/why they do it.)  \n\nAlthough there are a number of universities which grant bachelor's degrees both in physics and in astronomy, the curricula typically overlap and a basic physics degree will prepare one for graduate school.  The basic physics curriculum includes a heavy dose of mathematics as well as classes within the field of physics--classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, electronics, atomic & nuclear physics, thermodynamics, optics.  A concentration in astronomy would also include an observational astronomy class, celestial mechanics, and more optics.\n\nA Ph.D. is typically required to work in the field of astronomy, although there are some "low-level" jobs available with a master's degree.  Advanced degrees in physics, including astronomy, can take anywhere from three to ten years to earn.  The main reason for the variation in the time to complete a degree is because of the research required for a doctoral thesis.  Getting time on a major telescope or array to collect data can be difficult and there's always the possibility of being bumped by someone with more pull.  The nature of research generally can mean several months of work can be wrecked or rendered useless in a heartbeat.  There are a number of excellent schools for astronomy--Arizona, Cornell, Chicago, Maryland, Iowa State, North Carolina State, New Mexico, just to name a few. \n\nAs to whether meteorology or astronomy is better for society, well, that depends on your criteria.  Meteorology probably has many more direct and practical applications and impact on individuals.  Space science generally has brought a number of advances in technology/convenience.  Learning more about the natural world around us, specifically the lights in the night sky, however tends to inspire the poet and dreamer in folks, reminding us of the things that are greater than we ourselves.\n\nOh, and I can't speak to preparation for meteorology, so I won't. \n\n******\nI have a B.S. in physics with minors in mathematics and philosophy, spent a year in graduate school for physics (Ph.D-track) and studied the history of science before pursuing other things.
393081
Computers support the work of astronomers in two major ways.\n\nFirst, they help acquire, store, and analyze the massive amounts of data that astronomical research generates.  Astronomers are currently undertaking a venture called the “virtual observatory,” an international effort at standardizing and allowing access to the data collected by observatories around the world and in space.  Without computers, we’d still be trying to use photographic plates and low-resolution analog detectors to figure out the cosmos;instead, we have the Hubble Space Telescope!\n\nThe second major influence is the advent of “computational astrophysics” over the last several decades, during which time we have refined the ability to simulate the laws of physics on our computers.  We can use comptuers to re-create environments we can’t visit and periods of time that are too long for us to experience.  Thus, we can use computers to simulate everything from Earth’s magnetic field to galactic collisions, from stellar birth to the bending of light around black holes.  Then we can compare those simulations to what we see around us (sifting through the aforementioned massive quantities of data).\n\nI can’t help but note one other way in which computers aid astronomers…  Computers allow us to visualize the complex data returned from both telescopes and computer code.  So we can employ not just purely numerical tools to study the data, but also begin to explore the information with, as it were, the right side of our brains.  My title, you see, is “science visualizer.”  :)\n\n(Below, I link to course notes for a class I co-taught about “Computers, Data Exploration & Science in the 21st Century.”)\n\n\nRyan Wyatt\nRose Center for Earth & Space\nNew York, New York
617691
Many physicists go into information technology professions. I have seen quite a few, ranging from PhDs and bachelors, working in IT consulting, teaching, programming, and all sorts. It seems that stuff learnt in physics lectures can be translated into IT work too.
314707
You can become an astronomer.  This is one of the hot topics in astronomy right now, and quite a bit of effort is being put into it by professional astronomers.  In the meantime you can use your spare CPU cycles to help check radio signals from other stars for signs that they may have been produced with the inetent of contacting us through the SETI@home project.  The rpgram runs as a screen saver, and has been around for a number of years now.\n\nAs far as Voyager 2, it is just under 80AU away (80 times the distance from the earth to the sun), in the direction of the constellation Telescopium.
324883
I think Astrophysics and Glass-blowing.
284052
Yes.  Physics is the science of the physical world, of natural bodies.  Physicians are those who heal the natural body of the person.
886763
I know several people who are scientists and believe in God.  Many of them see that there is more to the universe than can be explained by science.
502221
When I was a boy I wanted to be an astronomer, and I have always maintained an interest in the subject. I did my BA in psychology, but I did an elective unit in astronomy and I loved it! I've always been fascinated by the grandeur and mystery of the universe.
358961
Astrophysics - Research Opportunities - University of Central...\nResearch Students study for MSc (by research), MPhil or PhD, taking 1 ... Stellar astrophysics ... stellar seismology: probes of stellar interior\nhttp://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/pg/research/astrophysics.htm \n\n\n \nMSSL Astrophysics MSc courses\nMSc Courses Astrophysics Group Mullard Space Science Laboratory \nhttp://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/www_astro/academic/msc.html
379077
Uh you might want another degree unless you just want to work on computer programs for astronomers.  A masters or preferably doctorate is practically required for most jobs as an astronomer.
557424
I work at NASA and help train the astronaunts.  It's not like the movies (AKA Space Cowboys).\n\nMost astronaunts are skilled professionals with multiple degrees.  They are constantly being trained for a shuttle launch.  About 4 weeks before launch, their training increases from 30-40 per/week to up to 60 depending on EVA's and stuff.
535160
what do you want to calculate? gravitation? emission? something else?