Perhaps many of you will become lifelong stargazers and amateur astronomers, and there's always room for amateurs to actually conduct astronomical research. Indeed, the opportunities for amateur astronomers to be involved in research increases every day. In the future, this website may be linked to a place where you can conduct your own research. For now you can see what we are up to at Educational Observatory . Spotty is patiently waiting for the Sun to set so she can get some starshine.
Professional astronomy is a little different.
Professional astronomers do astronomy more for the sake of science than for recreation, and they rely on large telescopes, spacecraft, physics, mathematics, chemistry, and computers. Most professional astronomers don't observe the sky directly very often. After the instruments collect the desired data, astronomers use it to help explain how the universe works. Professionals propose hypotheses, collect more data, interpret it, and create theories. Like amateur astronomers, professional astronomers are often very passionate about their work.