Cosmology, Astrophysics, Astronomy, What's the Difference?

What’s the difference between Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology?
You may be wondering this so you know what to study in school, because they all seem the same. This video will briefly help you distinguish between the 3 as we dive deeper into cosmology in future videos

Astronomy is a blanket term that generally covers all study of stars, planets, and space in general. This means that an Astronomy degree can put you well on your way to studying Astrophysics or Cosmology in your professional field, so don’t feel like you are missing out on anything if you choose this as your major. For lack of better terms though, you can think of Astronomy as primarily focused on observing the skies. 

Astrophysics applies the laws of physics and chemistry to explain the birth, life and death of stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae and other objects in the universe. If you want to study Astrophysics in college, you could start with an Astronomy degree, then you should aim to (eventually) complete a doctorate in astrophysics, and then take on a post-doctoral position in astrophysics. Astrophysicists can work for the government, university labs and, occasionally, private organizations.

Cosmology is similar to Astrophysics, but deals with phenomena on a larger scale. Whereas astrophysics is concerned with the physics and evolution of stars and galaxies, Cosmology is concerned with the birth, evolution and death of space itself and these larger cosmological structures like superclusters and voids. Cosmologists ask questions like, how did the universe begin, why is it expanding, and how will it die? Cosmologists have similar schooling as Astrophysicists, focusing their advanced degrees on Cosmology after having a background in Astronomy. Cosmologists can also work for the government, university labs and agencies such as NASA and the European Space Agency.

To recap:

Astronomers observe positions, luminosities, and motions of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies.
Astrophysicists study the physics of how all of these objects behave in space
Cosmology studies the existence of larger cosmological structure and the birth and fate of our universe as a whole. 

[netherwolves]

Great video! I want to go into this field but I’m not quite sure which one I want to choose, but it’s still very early and I think I will discover that as time goes on.

[ghn_yug]

Cosmology: large scale of the universe

[Unknown-khgv]

Hi! Thanks for this helpful video. I'm a senior high school student in Türkiye who was always amazed by space, astronomy kind of stuff. I grew up watching and consuming all knowledge about stars, blackholes, etc. And I'd love to spend the rest of my life researching about them, making money while doing so. However, in Türkiye aside from cosmology, there aren't even decent astronomy or astrophysics license degrees. We only have physics and astronomy degrees. however, astronomy degree is so untouched that there is only 1 astronomer who graduated from there. My current uni exam score is 70/80 but astronomy only requires 30/80 and i don't wanna waste my hardwork either. It's education is not enough for most of its students. There are only one or two decent astronomers graduating in every few years. It's difficult, as it should, but education is not enough. I would consider studying physics as a licence, then studying astrophysics or astronomy for masters degree. However, im really NOT into material physics. And you have to study those for 4 entire years at physics degree. If you don't have passion it would be a waste of those 4 years. Can i still be an astronomer if i don't wanna study major league physics? My familys income is not bad, but we're in an economic crisis rn, and they can't afford my uni costs if i study abroad with no scholarship. And i really wanna be successful in my own country.. I'm so hopeless, ain't i. What is your opinion? I wanna get involved in astronomy in a non physics-based way and be successful. I'm planning to study translation studies so i can get to know english and another 2nd language better, so i can somehow study astronomy abroad easily. Is age 22 too late to start studying astronomy degree? If i want to study for a bachelors degree as well?

[nostalgia]

Excellent video. The Chronoverse is the cosmology of Philochrony. Philochrony is the theory that describes the nature of time and demonstrates its existence. Time is magnitive: objective, Imperceptible (intervals) and measurable (duration).

[Ascenxiz]

Short, to the point and helpful. Just the way I like it. Thanks a lot!

[leoflores]

I am trying to make a point to my colleagues about the effectiveness of early intervention versus late intervention. My question is, how early (miles) would you have to intervene, to deflect the meteor that created the Chicxulub crater and wiped out the dinosaurs, from hitting the earth, if you could only exert one pound of pressure? Make any reasonable assumption you need to produce that model. Then how much force would be required to deflect that same (hypothesized) meteor from hitting the earth if the intervention was delayed until the meteor was equivalent to the moon’s orbit from the earth? (One thumbs up for each answer, not easy to get a thumbs up from me, sorry 😊 )

[meissying]

Thank you for making the video, as a high school student interested in pursuing space related science, I finally have a deeper grasp of the understanding of these different fields. 😌😌

[safalabista]

Thank you. I have always wanted to study the space (astronomy) but as I kept getting introduced to newer fields like astrophysics and cosmology, I kept getting more and more confused. Since it seems like astronomy is the more general field, it seems like it would be the best to start with it and progress to astrophysics or cosmology, depending on what I'm interested in in the long run.

[godgamerzff]

thanks bro, god bless you for making this video . my life is a little simpler now

[lamaceceli]

Thank you very muchh .. We're waiting the next vd about cosmology 🖤🖤

[kajalkashaudhan]

Hey! this video perfect my doubts are Crystal Clear thank you so much sir
I'm in class 11th
I want to become a astrophysicist
What should I after class 12th

[CredowXD]

Hey bro! Is there any of your video which can guide me to choose one from these?

[sonusharmakaushik]

Please give more and more information about this field also tell about institutes

[TheInquisitivePolymath]

Astronomy: the studies of the stars and other celestial bodies like planets.
Astrophysics: Explain the life and death of stars, planets, galaxies, etc.
Cosmology: Used to explain the large scale properties of the universe; explain the life, birth, and death of universe.

[kasab]

which universities offer a bechlors in astronomy? ive been trying to search for so long but i cant find any potential ones

[kathandesai]

I'm pursuing bachelor degree in Electrical engineering and I want to become observational astronomer. My question is that if I choose Astronomy in my master degree, do I have to choose specifically Observational Astronomy or I have choose Observational Astronomy after completing my phd in Astronomy?

[ComicBooksandVideoGameNerd]

Fun fact Reed Richards mr. Fantastic Marvel Comics and dr. Rajesh Koothrappali from The Big Bang Theory brought me here

[missubro]

Study cosmology is my dream, from india, preparing for one of the toughest entrance exam in science jee advanced

[anya]

whats the difference in cosmology and astrophysics

[TalhaKhalfan-jq]

Are these 3 are the branches or physics 🤔 you consider these the branches