Expert: Tom Whiting - 3/4/2005

Question
Hello, my name is Mitchell, and I have a question relating to astronomy careers.  I just started college here in California, and I've always wanted a career that related to astronomy in some way.  Only, I am not good at math and would hate to go into physics or some related “technical field.”  I simply enjoy looking up at the night sky.  What careers could I pursue if I were to "live astronomy" without all the physics and technical jargon?  I still want to be the amateur type!

Answer
Hi Mitchell,
I had exactly the same problem 40 years ago!
Not that good at higher math, but pretty good with the sciences.  I even enjoyed physics, but not that good at it.
So I decided on engineering for education purposes, and take up amateur astronomy as a past-time or hobby.
Nothing wrong with that at all.

In fact, astronomy is one of those few activities that there
is very little distinction between amateur and professional....
you can really go deep into the field as an amateur...only
differences are as an amateur, you usually have to pay for
your own equipment, and of course, you don't get paid to
do astronomy, whereas the professional does get paid.

So, do like I did...pick a career (where you can earn a living);
something you are highly qualified and educated for,
and then pick amateur astronomy as your hobby or pasttime.

I ended up a pilot for the USAF and an engineer by education, but astronomy is my main hobby.
I recognized early on that to break into the professional
astronomy field, one must either earn, or be working on,
a doctorate in that field,  or related field like astrophysics,
and I realized early on that that achievement was beyond my mental (and pocketbook) abilities.  Even today as a
metallurgical engineer by degree, I don't think I could hack
the heavy theoretical physics and high mathematics required
for a doctorate in the astronomy field.....one just has to be realistic and honest with oneself when it comes to a career.

Besides, most professional astronomers are not "stargazers"
anyway....they basically work on computers and analyze
the pictures taken over-night by the observatory assistants...
In fact, a lot of them don't even know the night sky and couldn't point out the star Antares if their life depended upon
it!  
But us amateurs are different...our main purpose IS to observe the night sky, and learn it....so sounds like you
fit the bill for simply going into the amateur field anyway.
As you like to actually observe and look at the night sky!
Most pro's don't even bother looking up at the night sky.

Hope all this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA