Many reasons can be enumerated. The most usual ones follow. Astronomy, the study of matter and fields, light and waves, energy and charges, and their interactions, is an international enterprise which plays a key role in the future progress of humankind. The support of astrophysics education and research in all countries is important. Astronomy is an exciting intellectual adventure that inspires young people and expands the frontiers of knowledge about Nature.
Astronomy generates fundamental knowledge needed for many future technological advances.
Astronomy contributes to the technological infrastructure and provides trained personnel needed to take advantage of scientific advances and discoveries. Astronomy is an important element in the education of chemists, physicists, engineers, mathematicians and computer scientists, as well as practitioners of the other physical sciences. Astronomy extends and enhances our understanding of other disciplines, such as the earth, agricultural, chemical, biological, and environmental sciences. Astrophysics and cosmology are subjects of substantial importance to all peoples of the world. Astronomy improves our quality of life by providing some basic understanding necessary for developing new instrumentation and techniques for outside applications, such as computer tomography, etc.