Expert: Tom Whiting - 12/30/2006

Question
I am in the 8th grade and ever since i was little i have wanted to learn something new about space and deep space. now that i am older i want to start studying about astronomy and i would like to know what i should be good at to excel at it!! i know math and science, but like what in science and math do i need to know?? and is there anything else i should concentrate on?? please help me begin my future in the correct path! thanks

Answer
Hi Rachel,
Well, you are off to a good start because....it's not only the
knowledge that's important, it's also your desire to want to
learn the subject, and you seem very interested in astronomy
already.
Today in the schools, they don't teach you much astronomy
and space, so you kind of have to do it all on your own, like
Abe Lincoln did with law.  (And like we all had to do with
astronomy)...self-teach yourself.
Fortunately, this isn't hard....raid the public library and read
all you can about the subject.  Get a cheap pair of binoculars
and go outside at night and learn (self-teach yourself) the
night sky.  This isn't as hard as it sounds as constellations
are simply areas of the sky for identification purposes.
If you can learn and memorize 4 adjoining states, say Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois....then you can
also learn and memorize Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.
They are just areas of sky, like the states.  Also if you live
in or near a large town, check and see if they possibly have
an astronomy club you can join.

As far as courses in school, depends on where you want
to go with space and astronomy.   Astronaut someday?
Then you'll probably want to go the pilot route...Military...
Air Force or Navy...not joining, but becoming an officer and
on to flight school, preferably through Annapolis or the
US Air Force Academy  (all free education, but hard to get
into and qualify for those schools).
In any case, you want to load up your school courses with
as much science and math as possible...avoid the humanities
courses like...social sciences (newspaper reading), underwater basket weaving, home economics, embroidering
and sewing, etc.
And go for 2 years of Chemistry, 2 years of physics, plane
geometry, 2 years of algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus.
These are the courses you'll need for college to continue
into the sciences in college.   (Courses like Underwater basket weaving, Black History Month, and Political Science.....
won't get you very far)!  This is true in any aspect of space
and astronomy.
Now if you wish to work in a large major observatory, in addition, your location and college is critical.  ALL the BIG
scopes are out west, or Hawaii....so you want to live, and go
to school in those area's because they specialize more in
astronomy and astrophysics more than the schools back
East.  I've heard that University of Arizona is one of the best
for astronomy.  Also, plan on going all the way for a doctorate in Astronomy or Astrophysics....with the competition out there, you almost have to have, or be working on, your Doctorate...to get a good job at a major
observatory.  So see, it depends on what you specifically want to specialize in, when you get to that point in your life
and education.  But keep up the good work, and the high
interest, and you can do anything you want, providing you
can pass the physical for the activity that you want.
Hope all this helps,
Clear Skies
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA

And for any further questions, please feel free to contact
me directly, if I can be of any more help, at
bwhiting@velocity.net
as I am a retired USAF Pilot with lots of time on my hands.