Being an Astronomer Students from around the United States call the National Optical Astronomy Observatories with questions about what it is like to be an astronomer. Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions based on those telephone conversations with answers provided by NOAO staff members. You may also request a printed copy of this brochure .
Astronomy is the study of the celestial bodies and their compositions, motions, and origins.
Most astronomers concentrate on a particular question or area of astronomy, for example, planetary science, solar astronomy, the origin and evolution of stars, or the formation of galaxies. Observational astronomers design and carry out observing programs with a telescope or spacecraft to answer a question or test the predictions of theories. Theorists work with complex computer models of a star's interior, for example, to understand the physical processes responsible for the star's appearance. Astronomy is different from most sciences in that we can't directly interact with the object of study. That is, it is impossible to dissect, weigh, touch, smell, or otherwise experiment with a star.