Expert: Philip Stahl - 9/13/2010

Question
Sir, i am in final year of civil engineering and i want to study astronomy through distance education. I live in India. please give me detail.

Answer
Hello,

You don't indicate to what level you wish to pursue astronomy education. To graduate level (Master's?, Ph.D.?) To bachelor's degree level? Or, just to satisfy curiosity and learn more about the universe?

My advice is to not even think of pursuing advanced astronomy degrees by way of distance learning. Just doesn't work! One needs to be on the spot, inside a proper university - availing onself of the multifold resources there, as well as mentors (such as professors and TAs - teaching assistants- making themselves available during office hours). In addition, you can't be sure of the quality and if you are as serious abuot the subject as you are civil engineering, you should know you can't get a proper degree "on the cheap".

Now, if you are simply curious and want to learn more about the subject there are a vast array of access points on the web, including courses available - such as this one at Yale:

http://oyc.yale.edu/astronomy/frontiers-and-controversies-in-astrophysics

But in terms of getting an astronomy degree from a distance, I'd say forget about it, as any worthwhile one will not be attained "long distance".