INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY-ASTRO 102

What Do Astronomers Do?

What Do Astronomers Do?

1. Write what you hoped to get out of this class. What did you get out of it?

I had several hopes while enrolling in this class. My major interests in this course were learning about planets and their moons, how the solar system was formed, and why planets revolve around the moon. I was also interested in knowing why interplanetary spacecraft navigate through space.

This class has greatly changed my preconceived knowledge of the planet system and the life beyond Earth. From this class, I learned how the solar system was formed from interstellar gas and dust, including how the structure and arrangement came into being. Planets revolve around the Sun due to the gravitational forces putting them into orbit. Similarly, each planet’s gravity pulls the moons around them and spacecraft in motion. I also learned the importance of Earth-based systems for enabling interplanetary spacecraft navigation.  

• What did you think of when you thought of astronomy? What do you think now?

My initial thought about astronomy was that it explores everything within our solar system. I envisioned a discipline that studies the physical and chemical components of the planetary bodies. My thoughts about astronomy have significantly changed. Astronomy deals with everything in the universe beyond the solar system, including planets, galaxies, asteroids, stars, and moons. So far, I have learned that astronomy is a natural science that relies on mathematics, chemistry, physics, and geography to make ground-based equipment for exploring the origin and evolution of distant objects and phenomena in the universe.

• What did you think astronomers do? What about now?

I thought that astronomers travel to space to conduct scientific research and explorations. This course has completely changed my initial thoughts about astronomers and what they do. Astronomers rarely travel to space but leverage ground-based equipment and technology, such as telescopes, to study celestial bodies and natural phenomena in the universe.

• How do you think astronomy contributes to science and society?

Astronomy has made significant contributions to our scientific and societal knowledge at large. The field continues to revolutionize our thoughts about the universe by comprehending distant phenomena, exploring extreme events, and envisioning the invisible. Specifically, it provides a wealth of information that offers gains in several areas, including technology, medicine, farming, and the conservation of our planet. Throughout history, astronomy has significantly impacted how we monitor the passage of seasons and enhance global civilizations. The way new discoveries and technologies contribute to international collaborations is of great importance. For example, countries come together to implement astronomical projects that inspire our society.