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19-2011.00 - Astronomers


Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
1,900
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
1,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
100.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+2.8%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
  • Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
  • Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
  • Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
  • Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
  • Raise funds for scientific research.
  • Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
  • Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
  • Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
  • Develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation.
  • Calculate orbits and determine sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies.
  • Review scientific proposals and research papers.
  • Serve on professional panels and committees.
  • Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
  • Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
Supplemental
  • Direct the operations of a planetarium.
  • Conduct question-and-answer presentations on astronomy topics with public audiences.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mathematics
  • 100%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Physics
  • 98%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 91%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 86%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 74%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Education and Training
  • 72%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Chemistry
  • 65%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Administration and Management
  • 55%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Communications and Media
  • 55%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Atomic absorption AA spectroscopes
  • Ebert-Fastie spectrometers
  • Echelle spectrometers
  • Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers
  • High resolution spectrographs
  • Low resolution imaging spectrographs
  • Multi-object spectrographs MOS
  • Near-infrared imagers and spectrometers NIRI
  • Near-infrared integral field spectrometers
  • Pulsar processors
  • Spectroscopes
  • Wideband pulsar processors
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Automated telescopes
  • Charge-coupled device CCD imagers
  • Dobsonian telescopes
  • European VLBI Network EVN telescopes
  • High powered binoculars
  • Optical telescopes
  • Radio telescopes
  • Reflector telescopes
  • Refracting telescopes
  • Scanning telescopes
  • Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes
  • Single-dish radio telescopes
  • Solar telescopes
  • Very large array VLA telescopes
  • Very long baseline array VLBA telescopes
 Laboratory boring and grinding and cutting and crushing and pressing equipment
  • Ball mills
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Baseband recorders
 Laboratory cooling equipment
  • Cryostats
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Temperature and heat measuring instruments
  • Differential scanning calorimeters
 Radar and sonar systems and components
  • Doppler Rayleigh laser imaging ranging and detecting LIDAR systems
  • Laser imaging detection and ranging LIDAR systems
  • Resonance fluorescence laser imaging detection and ranging LIDAR systems
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Electron beam ion traps EBIT
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Interferometers
  • Optical interferometers
  • Photometers
  • Tilting filter photometers
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Planetary radar transmitters
 Fixed network equipment and components
  • Radio antennas
 Calculating machines and accessories
  • Scientific calculators
 Miscellaneous optical components
  • Solar telescope filters
 Laboratory decanting and distilling and evaporating and extracting equipment and supplies
  • Thermal evaporators
 Cameras
  • Wide-field mosaic charge-coupled device CCD cameras
 Crystallography equipment
  • X ray diffractometers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Development software
  • Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++
  • C++HOT
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Interface definition language IDL
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • Software development tools
 Industry specific software
  • Adaptive optics AO simulation software
  • Analyz
  • Astronomical Image Processing for Windows AIP4WIN
  • Astronomical Image Processing System AIPS
  • Astronomical information processing system AIPS++
  • Data reduction software
  • Diffraction Limited MaxIm DL
  • European Southern Observatory Munich Image Data Analysis System ESO-MIDAS
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • MSB Software Astroart
  • Multipurpose Interactive Image Processing System MIIPS
  • SASHOT
  • Software Bisque CCDSoft
  • Starcal
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Visual Numerics PV-WAVE
 Data management and query software
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Spectroscopy databases
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Avis Fits Viewer
  • IRIS
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Operating environment software
  • LinuxHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
George Mason University
 Programs
Randolph-Macon College
 Programs
Richard Bland College
 Programs