What tasks do astronomers do daily?

Typical duties include developing and testing scientific theories, analyzing data, and writing research proposals. They also spend time composing scientific papers and presenting their findings to others in the field. Most astronomers work within a team of scientists.

What do astronomers do for work?

Astronomers study planets, stars, and other celestial bodies. They use ground-based equipment, such as optical telescopes, and space-based equipment, such as the Hubble Space Telescope. Some astronomers study distant galaxies and phenomena such as black holes and neutron stars.

Do astronomers work at night?

Night astronomers work every day, from sunset to sunrise. Two and a half hours before sunset we have a meeting where the daytime crew summarises what work has been done to maintain or repair the telescopes, the status of the various instruments, and what needs to be finished in the remaining hours before sunset.

What do observational astronomers do?

As an astronomer, you can work in observational astronomy, using telescopes and cameras to look at the stars, galaxies and other astronomical objects, or in theoretical astronomy, where you’ll use maths and computer models to explain observations and predictions.

Do astronomers sleep?

Space has no “up” or “down,” but it does have microgravity. As a result, astronauts are weightless and can sleep in any orientation. However, they have to attach themselves so they don’t float around and bump into something.

Do astronomers get flexible hours?

Hours can fluctuate wildly, with office hours loosely kept. Astronomers have to be flexible, as sometimes weekend and evening work will have to be carried out, as they provide the best conditions for an observation.

Why should I be an astronomer?

By studying the cosmos beyond our own planet, we can understand where we came from, where we are going, and how physics works under conditions which are impossible to recreate on Earth. In astronomy, the Universe is our laboratory!