103 FAQs about A Career in Astronomy (The Astronomy Cafe)

1. What do you see astronomy being like in the 21st century?
2. Why have you never posted a list of the funniest or silliest questions people have ever asked you?
3. Are there any questions that you are surprised were never asked by people visiting your site?
4. Is what you are doing now, what you expected you would be doing when you first got interested in astronomy?
5. Is there a lot of stress in your job?
6. What is the future job outlook for careers in astronomy?
7. Do you like to look at stars?
8. How much mathematics do astronomers need to know?
9. Do you have any optimistic words for a 17 year old student interested in planetary astronomy?
10. What distinguishes ancient astronomy from modern astronomy?
11. What roles have women played in the space program?
12. Any good advice for young astronomers to be?
13. Are there any jobs in astronomy or space science for people with less that a Masters Degree?
14. How do astronomers get paid?
15. I am in 9th grade and live in Virginia. Where should I go to college to be an astronomer?
16. Does a degree in nuclear engineering help towards a graduate school program in cosmology?
17. Can a 'very good' high school student become an astronomer, or will I have to live with my parents the rest of my life?
18. Is it possible to get a degree in astronomy over the Internet?
19. Is the University of Virginia a good school for astronomy?
20. Is there a future to a career in astronomy?
21. Did you ever meet Carl Sagan?
22. How is Carl Sagan regarded among professional astronomers?
23. When did you become an astronomer, and was it hard to do?
24. Can you get into astronomy with a career in an aerospace field?
25. When were you first introduced to astronomy?
26. What education do you need to become a professional astronomer?
27. Can a BS in Chemical Engineering become a professional astronomer?
28. I am not very strong in math or physics. Is there still hope for me to get into astronomy?
29. How did you get interested in astronomy and do you find it as interesting as you did then?
30. What advice do you have for an aspiring astronomer weak in math?
31. What aspect of your career is the most favorite to you?
32. Is your job interesting?
33. How would you solve the supply-demand problem facing astronomers in their careers?
34. As a freshman at Mercer University, how do I get into solar research?
35. What high school courses should I take to prepare for an undergraduate program in astronomy?
36. Is there a 'code of ethics' in astronomy?
37. Can you become an astronomer with an undergraduate background in mechanical engineering?
38. Do real astronomers ever look through a telescope to do their research?
39. What math courses do you need to take to understand cosmology?
40. I am interested in biochemistry and astronomy. Which is the better choice?
41. Do astronomers spend a lot of time looking through telescopes at work?
42. Do astronomers work a lot at night?
43. What self-study program would you recommend to get a professional understanding of astronomy and modern physics?
44. What are the results from your survey of what it takes to be an astronomer?
45. What do you have to do to get a Nobel Prize?
46. What are the benefits of being an astronomer?
47. How much do astronomers make?
48. Which colleges have good astronomy programs for under $10,000 per year?
49. What do astronomers do when their research gets clouded-out?
50. Do astronomers become inactive researchers after they get tenure?
51. Does a career in astronomy take up much of your free time?
52. What are the pros and cons of a career in astronomy?
53. What is a good grade point average to have if you want to be an astronomer?
54. What pressures come with a career in astronomy?
55. What education do you need to be an astronomer?
56. What is the political debate over space science in the United States in the election year 1996?
57. What advice can you give someone in college who really loves astronomy more than anything in the world?
58. What is unique about your approach to 'doing' astronomy?
59. Where do I find jobs listed in astronomy and related fields?
60. Why did you become an astronomer?
61. What are the advantages/disadvantages of a late 20s student entering traditional astronomy programs?
62. Can a non-traditional astronomy student find an astronomy-related career?
63. How many papers do astronomers publish each year?
64. What are the most actively researched areas in astronomy today?
65. How many astronomers are there in the United States?
66. Any advice on becoming a planetary scientist?
67. Have you ever made a big discovery?
68. Is astronomy fun?
69. Do you have any words of advice for the job prospects in astronomy for current undergraduates in astronomy and physics?
70. As an undergraduate majoring in government, how do I get a career in space science?
71. What types of people do you work with?
72. What interesting things have you experienced in your career?
73. What do you specialize in?
74. What is your favorite part of astronomy?
75. What kind of equipment do you use in your research?
76. What activities do you carry out on a typical day?
77. What is your current job description?
78. What inspired you to become an astronomer?
79. How long are you going to continue answering questions at Ask the Astronomer, and keeping the Cafe open for business?
80. Why are the news abstracts from the AAS meetings so sketchy on the Web?
81. What is the difference between astronomy and astrophysics?
82. Is Ohio State University a good undergraduate school for astronomy?
83. Is it important to enter graduate school immediately after getting a degree in physics or astronomy?
84. Do you need to study chemistry, biology and geology to be an astronomer?
85. As a freshman interested in astronomy and medicine, how do I decide which way to go?
86. To be an astronomer, do I have to be another Einstein?
87. What is astrogeology and what are the career possibilities?
88. Where can foreign students get study grants to come to the USA to study astronomy?
89. Can foreign students come to the USA to study astronomy?
90. What is an acceptable major for becoming an astronomer?
91. How is it decided which programs are going to be supported by NASA?
92. Should I study Law or Astronomy?
93. How do astronomers get financial support to carry out their research programs?
94. How do astronomers get jobs?
95. Where can I get a summer internship position in astronomy?
96. How many astronomers are there?
97. How many different areas of astronomy are currently under investigation?
98. How rapidly is astronomical research growing?
99. What kind of things do astronomers need in your laboratory or office to do research?
100. What is a typical day like for an astronomer?
101. Is it easy to discover something unusual?
102. Do you like answering all these questions from people you don't know?
103. Do you have any advise for someone getting started in astronomy?

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