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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 space observatory 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. For the most part, we learn about astronomical objects indirectly by observing the light they emit or reflect, and measuring the motions they and their celestial neighbors exhibit. Gains in astronomical knowledge are made through research, a systematic inquiry in which scientists define a question, gather relevant data, formulate a hypothesis, then test the predictions of that hypothesis.
A career in astronomy can include the study of physics, math, geology, engineering and those research interests that lie within the broad spectrum of subjects comprising contemporary astronomy.
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