Branches of astronomy Atmospheric science – study of atmospheres and weather. Exoplanetology – various planets outside of the Solar System. Planetary formation – formation of planets and moons in the context of the formation and evolution of the Solar System. Astronomers are scientists who study the universe, its objects and how it works. They aim to push the boundaries of human knowledge about how the universe works by observation and theoretical modelling. Is astronomy a career? As science professions go, astronomy is a relatively small field, with about 6,000 professional astronomers in North America. Because of its size, astronomers get to know and collaborate with many colleagues across the U.S. and around the world. What kind of math do you need for astronomy? Because some knowledge of physics and calculus is necessary to understand many astronomical phenomena, the Astronomy major requires the first two semesters each of physics and calculus also required of Physics majors and Astrophysics majors. How many types of astronomy are there? two Since the 20th century there have been two main types of astronomy, observational and theoretical astronomy. Observational astronomy uses telescopes and cameras to observe or look at stars, galaxies and other astronomical objects. Who is a famous astronomer? Galileo is most widely known for defending the idea several years after Kepler had already calculated the path of planets, and Galileo wound up under house arrest at the end of his lifetime because of it. Italian astronomer Giovanni Cassini (1625–1712) measured how long it took the planets Jupiter and Mars to rotate What is the study of space called? Definition of astronomy: Astronomy is the study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, comets, gas, galaxies, gas, dust and other non-Earthly bodies and phenomena. Do astronomers get paid well? A: It's hard to get rich by being an astronomer, but most astronomers make enough money to live comfortably. The amount astronomers are paid depends on where the astronomer is working, how much experience the astronomer has, and even how prestigious the astronomer is. For more detailed numbers, see the link below