Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Planets
Solar System
Stars
“Star Stuff” (Interstellar Medium)
Galaxies
AGN/Quasars
Clusters
Universe
1
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
Solar System
Sun
Solar Wind
Planets
Moons
Asteroids/NEOs
Kuiper belt objects
Interplanetary dust
etc….
2
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
Stars
Variable stars
Binary systems
Dwarfs, Giants, etc
Supernovae,
Compact Objects
(black holes, white
dwarfs, neutron stars)
3
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
“Star Stuff”
(Interstellar Medium)
Star formation &
Protostars
Chemistry
Structure, Phase, and
evolution
4
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
Galaxies
Formation & Evolution
Structure
Populations
Dynamics
Environment (voids,
field, groups, clusters)
5
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
6
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
Clusters
Formation &
Evolution
Structure
Dark Matter Content
Lensing
7
Life as an Astronomer:
1. What do Astronomers Study?
The Universe
Age and Size
Formation & Evolution
Content (dark matter,
cosmic strings, exotic
particles)
Topology (shape)
8
Life as an Astronomer:
2. How do we Work?
Observations Analysis
ground based (optical, objectivity
near infrared, radio) read & assimilate many
Space based (rockets & forms of data
space platforms; UV, x-ray) linear & non-linear
Computers thinking
analyze data Writing
solve complex research papers
problems proposals
numerical simulations presentations
9
Life as an Astronomer:
3. Where do we Work?
Academia
Research University
Teaching University/College
Research Facilities
Government Labs
National Observatories
Other
planetariums, telescope
support, etc.
Private Sector
10
Life as an Astronomer:
4. How do we spend our time? (part 1 of 2)
11
Life as an Astronomer:
4. How do we spend our time? (part 2 of 2)
12
Life as an Astronomer:
5. Training
H ig h S c h o o l
c o u r s e w o r k : c o lle g e p r e p
p h y s ic , c h e m is t r y , m a t h ( p r e - c a lc )
A d v a n c e d p la c e m e n t h e lp s
Support:
G ra d u a te S c h o o l After M.S., attrition is mostly voluntary
Teaching or Research Assistant 2 y e a r s o f c o u r s e w o r k = > M . S . long hours, but flexible schedule
~$15,000 - $20,000/yr T h e s is r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t extensive all-expense paid travel to exotic
locations
plus tuition waiver T im e lin e : ~ 4 -6 y e a rs to P h D no or poor health and retirement benefits
13
Life as an Astronomer:
5. Job Timeline
P o s tG ra d u a te :
~10 years from High School la r g e s t a tt r it io n o c c u r s 3 - 1 0 y e a r s p o s t P h D
3 5 % le a v e f ie ld , 2 0 % " s o f t m o n e y " ,
4 5 % p o te n t ia lly p e r m a n e n t
P o s td o c to ra l A p p t: P o s td o c to ra l A p p t: Payscale:
R e s e a rc h h ir e d u n d e r g r a n t p r o p o s a l $35,000-$45,000
w o rk o n y o u r o w n re s e a rc h ~ 5 0 % o f t im e o n s p e c if ic p r o j e c t geographically limited
1 - 3 y e a r d u r a tio n ( t e r m in a l) 1 - 3 y e a r s d u r a t io n ( t e r m in a l) employment options
~16 years from no or poor benefits
P o s td o c to ra l A p p t: P o s td o c to ra l A p p t: extensive all-expense paid
High School R e s e a rc h R esearch travel to exotic locations
w o rk o n y o u r o w n re s e a rc h w o rk o n y o u r o w n re s e a rc h long hours, but flexible
1 - 3 y e a r d u r a tio n ( t e r m in a l) 1 - 3 y e a r d u r a t io n ( t e r m in a l)
schedule
S u p p o r t S c ie n t is t T e n u re T ra c k " S o f t M o n e y " P o s t io n s
w h e r e : N a t io n a l O b s . o r G o v 't L a b w h e r e : R e s e a r c h o r T e a c h in g C o lle g e w h e r e : a t a n a g r e e a b le h o s t in s tit u te
t e n u r e t r a c k o r c o n tr a c t 5 - 6 y e a r s f o r " t e n u r e r e v ie w " m a y h a v e t o p e r f o r m o th e r d u tie s a t h o s t in s t itu te
p o t e n t ia lly p e r m a n e n t p o t e n t ia lly p e r m a n e n t n o n - p e r m a n e n t . d e p e n d s o n a b ilit y to r a is e g r a n t $ $
15
Life as an Astronomer:
6. A Typical Day
16