So, you have an interest in astronomy and space and you think you want to be an astronomer. This article will show you the steps you have to take in order to turn your amateur astronomy hobby into the career of a professional astronomer.

What is an astronomer and what do they do?

This may seem like a basic question, but it’s a good place to start. Just because you have an interest in astronomy doesn’t necessarily mean that becoming a professional astronomer is right for you.

An astronomer is a scientist who spends a great deal of time studying and observing the behavior of stars, planets, and galaxies as well as lots of other celestial objects. To be an astronomer, a person must earn a doctorate degree and have extensive knowledge of mathematics, computer science, and physics.

Even if you meet these difficult standards and get such an education, your journey toward becoming a professional astronomer is only half over. The competition for jobs in the field of astronomy is extremely fierce.

What you need to do to get started

Try to learn as much as you can about the field of astronomy. The library is a great place to find all sorts of information on the topic of astronomy. More importantly though, it’s absolutely free.

Another thing you should do is find out if there is an amateur astronomy club in your local area. Meeting other people who are knowledgeable about astronomy is a great way to learn things about astronomy that you just can’t learn from a book.

If there is an astronomy observatory near you, then pay them a visit. Observatories are another fantastic way to introduce yourself to the field of astronomy. You may even be able to speak with a professional astronomer at an observatory. There is no better way to research a career field than by talking to someone who is already working in that field.

Lay the groundwork in high school

Try to take as many mathematics and science courses as you can while you’re in high school. You should complete pre-calculus, chemistry, and physics by the time you graduate.

Moving on to college

Once you are accepted into a college, you should choose physics or astronomy as your major and try to carry at least a 3.0 grade point average. A B average is is the minimum GPA accepted by many graduate astronomy programs, so you’ll want to get the highest grades you possibly can while you’re an undergraduate.

Excellent writing skills

Another area to make sure you’re highly proficient in is writing. As an astronomer, you’ll write many articles related to astronomy and space. If you want them to be published in respected publications, the quality of your writing has to be top notch.