5 Reasons To Take Up Astronomy As More Than A Hobby

Even with a pair of the very best binoculars in your hands, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, stargazing can be an enjoyable, but fruitless hobby. If you wish to do more than just gaze up at the stars, however, you might be interested in taking up astronomy, and here are 5 reasons why it should be more than a mere hobby:

  • It can help you tackle the big questions in life

Stargazing is something carried out by those who enjoy looking up at the night sky with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope, while astronomy is classed as a scientific study that examines all manner of celestial objects, from stars and comets, to planets, galaxies and even atmospheric phenomena such as cosmic radiation. With its roots firmly in chemistry, physics and meteorology, astronomy examines how the universe was formed and developed, and scholars of the subject have helped us gain invaluable insights into the cosmic world and our place in it. 

As new discoveries are made, scientists bring us closer to understanding space and everything that has come to exist within it. Armed with such knowledge, mere mortals such as you and I, are able to get a better understanding of our very own existences. 

  • It can guide you towards other sciences

Many view astronomy as being the foundation upon which all other sciences are based, and ever since stars and galaxies were first discovered, they have played an important and significant role within human culture. Astronomy can give us a rudimentary comprehension of other subjects such as chemistry, physics and maths – each of which are vital building blocks for other, more specialised subjects and areas of study – and even create opportunities for careers in engineering or science.  

  • It’s a diverse subject

With applications across a wide range of industries, astronomy has its own varying fields, too, and those who study it professionally, are often given their classifications based upon the type of objects they study astronomically: stars, nebulae, galaxies and solar systems to name but a few. Astronomers also tend to specialise in certain areas and have varying skillsets, too, with some classing themselves as instrumentalists, observationalists or theoreticians, or a combination of more than one. 

  • It gives you other skills that are transferrable

While astronomy is a fiercely competitive field to get into, and full-time jobs within the industry are few and far between, studying it offers plenty of opportunities to find work in related fields and industries, using transferrable skills such as problem-solving. By pursuing your training and becoming qualified in astronomy, you may also find yourself a valuable prospect for employers within fields such as education, industrial research and public information, among others. 

  • It’s fun and infinitely interesting!

Thanks to the fact that astronomy is always changing, and there are always new discoveries and sightings to talk about, it makes for a fun and continually evolving career path to pursue, with a whole host of benefits. With so much to learn about the cosmos, astronomy is never going to be a boring field to be involved in, and armed with a pair of binoculars for astronomy, you could take your stargazing hobby to the next level! 

While hobbies are all well and good, with astronomy being such a fascinating and intriguing subject, it’s easy to see so why so many choose to pursue it as a career. So why not pick up your binoculars or get settled in front of your telescope, and enter into a world in which stars and planets are no longer the stuff of science fiction novels!

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