Student of the stars: How do you become an astronomer? | Michelle Thaller

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What's the difference between an astronomer and an astrophysicist? NASA's Michelle Thaller explains that these terms are used interchangeably: both are physicists who study objects and phenomena in the sky. How can you become an astronomer? There is a defined path to take: Do an undergrad degree in astrophysics, physics, mathematics or computer science, then complete a doctorate in astrophysics. You could also work with astronomers by studying engineering and building telescopes. In this fascinating explanation of what an astronomer's day-to-day job actually looks like, Thaller shines a light on the unexpected skills you might need and answers the question on every ambitious astronomer-to-be's mind: How will I know what to discover?

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MICHELLE THALLER

Dr. Michelle Thaller is an astronomer who studies binary stars and the life cycles of stars. She is Assistant Director of Science Communication at NASA. She went to college at Harvard University, completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, Calif. then started working for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) Spitzer Space Telescope. After a hugely successful mission, she moved on to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), in the Washington D.C. area. In her off-hours often puts on about 30lbs of Elizabethan garb and performs intricate Renaissance dances. For more information, visit
NASA.

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TRANSCRIPT:

MICHELLE THALLER: There are a lot of people that are fascinated by astronomy, and they think, hey, you can actually get a job where it's your life to make new discoveries, to actually work with larger NASA missions. So how do you get this gig? How do you become an astronomer?

For some strange reason, I always wanted to be an astronomer, ever since I was a very small child. I think for a while I wanted to be an astronaut, and then I actually realized I was afraid of flying and I did not want to be an astronaut. But I loved space, and I could just never get the questions out of my head. I was told many times I didn't have the right personality to be a scientist. That really didn't matter at all. That turned out not to be true.

But here are some of the things that kind of need to happen. So if you want to become a professional research astronomer, one of the things you will have to have is a doctorate in astronomy.

Now, there are a lot of other ways to be involved in astronomy. I work with a lot of people who are engineers who help us build the telescopes or the instruments that we use. They, for the most part, do not have PhDs. They may have an undergraduate degree in engineering. Some of them have master's degrees. But usually, they actually start working in a more practical way, building the instruments, doing some testing. They start that fairly early in their careers.

But to be an astronomer, you do have to get a doctorate. So there is a fairly well-defined path for that. So you go through high school, and after high school, you can apply to any number of colleges that have degree programs in either physics, or mathematics, or computer science. Or, in some cases, they'll actually have full degree programs in astronomy or astrophysics. And these days, those two words, astronomy and astrophysics, are used fairly interchangeably in a professional setting. So if you're majoring in astronomy, you're basically a physicist majoring in things that are in the sky. So astrophysicist, astronomer, pretty much the same thing.

So what I did is, I actually did go to a university—I went to Harvard University—that had a major in astrophysics as an undergrad. And so we took pretty much all of the physics requirements for a physics degree, all the math that's involved in that, too, but then there were specialized classes in topics in astronomy. We'd read papers about the Big Bang. We'd get together and we'D go to observatories to learn how telescopes work. And there were classes in things like how does a star work, how does a supernova explosion work, what is a galaxy like?

And these really are physics classes. They involve a lot of math, usually calculus—figuring out how a galaxy evolves over time, how all the different stars work, how gravity affects everything. So there certainly is a good deal of math and physics involved.

But then, as you become a professional astronomer, while you certainly know the basics of that and...

[chequrrr]

My entire life I've been obsessed with anything outside of Earth. I didn't think much of it until we did a solar system course in grade six. It opened my eyes a lot. I'm a highschool student now that still hasn't 100% decided what I want to do with my life. Whenever I ask myself, "What is my dream job?" it always ends up being an Astronomer. My parents are trying to push me into becoming a doctor, but that just isn't my dream. I decided that I wanted to be an Astronomer long ago. I'm going to chase my dream and if that dream changes on the way, at least I won't ever wonder what life could have been like.

Thank you for this video, it helped me a lot

[jackpast]

Do you have any idea how many people you influence?!? I’m 63 years old and I want to become an astronomer!

[mob]

For those of you asking “am I smart enough” you can be. Just don’t give up and keep pushing

[amomynousdasit]

THANK YOU!!! You watch me become an astronomer in six years time!

Update 1: just finished my gcse astronomy exam. Waiting for my results :)

Update 2: I got a grade 7 for my gcse astronomy exam. 1 mark away from an 8 but I'm fine with what I got :) more to cm....

Update​3: I am 3 months away from getting into 12th grade and... Idk if this disappoints u but astronomy doesn't feel like smthing I want to do as a carrier anymore. I love the subject but I don't really want to practice it. I've always been drawing aaand really into art so I am looking into graphic design atm... U never know what's to cm :)

Update 4: never thought I'd use a youtube comment as a way of keeping track of my career but ok. After hours of looking for what I really want to do, Ive settled on taking a BA in Industrial and Product design hopefully by 2023...ill probably go for creative director in the long run. Ill be back when i start stressing over uni application :)

[mrbugs]

Damn, I’m a junior in high school, I’ve been wanting to be an astronomer for about 7 to 5 years, but throughout the years, I’ve realize that being an astronomer is really hard, I’ve realized that I’m not smart enough to be an astronomer, it’s fun to listen to successful astronomers, and their experiences. (Btw I don’t think I’ll be able to be an astronomer simply cause I’m not smart enough, but maybe an engineer 🤷🏽‍♂️)

[crystaleunoia]

I absolutely love the cosmos with a deep passion and it's my dream to become an astronomer. On the other hand I feel like I'd be far too stupid for it and failing to achieve my dream, if I pursued it, would be devastating. I don't really know what to do, I want to be an astronomer but I don't think it's very realistic, for me especially.

[thesabbag]

I’ve loved astronomy since I was 9 years old. I can’t wait to become one

[DC-zise]

Step 1: Get high grades in school
Step 2: Do bachelor's in Physics
Step 3: Do master's in Astronomy
Step 3: Do PhD in Astronomy

[Slam_]

Okay, I grew up through school very good at English. Unfortunately, I sucked at maths. I was so bad at maths that buying these with cash sends me into a panic. But I love space! And this is my dream job and sadly I didn’t really realise this was a real job until now (I mean, I kinda knew about scientists but I thought it was much broader), so I’m currently finishing my last year of high school and I’m not doing any science or maths subjects because I was failing them, despite my passion. But I’m blowing the competition away in English.
But this video really made me realise that I still have a chance here because of my writing abilities... but, I’m just going to need to get myself around the whole maths and physics obstacle.
But this is my DREAM job, so I am going into this head first, self educating myself before I need to make the big choice of subject for university.
Any advice, please leave below. How can I self-educate myself in maths and physics despite being very slow in that field.

[Stardust.sprinkles]

I want to study astronomy so much, but I have some struggles like : Am I smart enougj for this job?What will I do after graduation?

[brendarua]

My school has us geologists sharing a building with the physics and chemistry people. I think we'all agree the instrument maker makes what we all do possible. After my dean and department chair, the machinist is the most important person in my career. I'm glad she touches on them in this talk. That's pretty darn real.

[ChaoticSiIence]

always wanted to become an astronomer since I could remember, I want to learn the most I can about space. it’s interesting it’s enjoyable being curious about outer space, gazing at the stars and learning more everyday in this universe. This video helped make everything clearer about astronomers and astronomy so thank you!

[niki]

Since like 2 years ago when was i discovered i wanted to be an astronomer and so does my bestfriend, me and her are currently working really hard to become and achieve our goal of becoming an astronomer.

[rochajraphael]

This couldn't have been more informative. Wow, so inspiring.

[Sarahh_]

I graduated with a degree in biology, getting my masters in biomedical sciences to become a dentist, but astronomy has always been in my heart since I was a young girl .

[josepacheco]

I'm only a freshman in high school and I have been looking at a ton of these videos about astronomy, I am super attracted to the subject and I would love to become one in the future. The only problem is I don't think I can complete the math part (I'm not the best at it) obviously I will try my hardest in school and my future, and hopefully in the end I can end up as an astronomer. I will continue to pursue this dream and hopefully something will come out of it, I mean I'm only 14 haha.

[Wallach_a]

As the father of an astrophysicist, this was right on the money. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[shannahmission]

This is how many people want to be an astronomer:
I
I
I

[ChahdBMalek]

Astronomy, and from a young age was my dream. At first it was a big love for stars and black holes mysteries. And then it become more serious and I started thinking about college and doctorate.
It seems a dream so hard to achieve but you made it easier for me and I felt your eyes saying:"There's no possible"Yes I'll do it...

[loverbutch]

ngl i was so intimidated by my dream of becoming an astronomer that i almost wanted to give up on it, but thankfully i decided to hang around a bit and search it up on youtube. i clicked on this video and thanks a lot, like, seriously- i was feeling really intimidated and thought i wasnt going to be able to provide for my family but this _really_ helped. ig im never gonna be famous like stephen hawking or katherine johnson but who cares as long as im working in the field i love :)