Going into Astrophysics.

[newtron]

OK, so i've got a long road ahead of me, but I can't see myself being interested or able to do much else. Of course I said the same thing of computer science and haven't gone as far as i'd have liked (of course I was taking courses on windows adminning so that could be why).<br /> I've come here because I barely know where to begin. I've been told i'll need a docterate in physics before I go into astrophysics, which is sort of a dissappointment because I was hoping to go right out, but I understand anyway (gotta walk before ya run). I also realize that chemistry is going to play an important part, which i'm fine with because i'd love to get into chemistry as well. The only things I am concerned about are particle physics and geology, both of which i'm not (as of yet anyway) too interested in. Regardless, I know its going to be exciting.<br /> I've not always been a top notch student though, hell public school wasn't kind to me. I also figured that I need some sort of school style schedule too, I am unable to effectively self-study or self-train. I'd hate, however, to get stuck with a teacher whose in it for just the paycheck. I'm getting away from the point though, plus I figure NMU will be a good enough school for anything astronomy related.<br /> I'm also worried about were i'll end up afterwards (I'm not the teacher type at all so professor is out). I was planning on minoring (or hell even doublemajoring) in computer science so I could get into some research or even implementation of special astro-related hardware (solar panels, telescopic hardware systems, maybe help program custom stuff or something). I'm not worried much over salary, long as its at LEAST 45k-50k a year. I'm primarily worried about doing something i'd enjoy.<br /> With that out, I'd also like to inquire as to any sort of groups or places online that could be of some sort of help to me in achieving these goals. Maybe something like yahoo groups save for more official and more active and helpful. T

 

[Saiph]

Astrophysics itself is a harsh discipline, if you intend on doing actual astronomy research. There are ~5,000 astronomers, worldwide. These are the publish and teaching style "academic researcher".<br /><br />Things to understand: It isn't easy, at all. In the graduate schools it really becomes a lesson in self-teaching. NOBODY is in astronomy just for the paycheck. Academics could get mucho mulla going "corprate" and doing industrial research for companies. Professors aren't poor...but they don't make as much as the same degree holder working at, say IBM.<br /><br />45-50k per year is about the starting wage for someone who holds a bachelors degree in physics. The jobs this lets you in on are basically what you'd think of as "engineering". Engineers are usually just really focused physicists (with an entirely different mindset and approach to problems usually the defining feature).<br /><br />If you want to do astronomy but not the "academic" route, bachelor's degrees, or masters (moreso masters) can get you "techincal" positions in the field. These are the people that actually work at, operate, and maintain the large instruments. The guy who uses the telescope everynight at Mauna Kea usually doesn't have a Ph.D. He does a masters so he can understand some of the science the researching astronomers are doing, so that he can assist and better use the telescope to further the research (kinda hard to make sure you take good measurements of a star, if you don't know anything about it).<br /><br />Computer background is a very, very, helpful skill set to have. It's not required (I'm a casually literate computer user) as you can pick up what you need as you go along, especially since the stuff used is usually custom programmed for the field. For example, I use IRAF, which is an "image reduction analasis....something". It processes images, but has a whole suite of tools for measurements, calibrations, error checking etc...and it's a programming language. Think ma <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[micro10]

Astrophysics is a good field to learn, There are planets out there in other solar systems that have good recources in them. And in doing some research of my own and thinking of how God created all of this is how I figured out a new way of producing Energy... Good luck!

 

[jatslo]

I might continue education in physics; more or less as a hobby though. I feel the need to challenge my mentors.

 

[drwayne]

A few random responses, mostly from the graduate school side:<br /><br />My experience has been that it is very difficult to get a job with a BS in Physics - at the BS level they really prefer an engineering degree. MS or Ph.D. opens the door a lot better.<br /><br />Unless supply and demand has shifted a lot in the last few years, academic positions are very hard to come by. I knew people who went through several post-doctoral positions before getting even an interview.<br /><br />One key in a graduate program is your advisor. A stable advisor, who has been there a while, with a track record of having people finish degrees. This may sound strange, but I have known faculty members who have people who work in the lab for years, but never get a degree.<br /><br />Access to faculty at the undergraduate level is important. People who you can talk to, and maybe even do some projects with are a great plus. Remember, the currencies of academia are (1) Currency (i.e. ability to get funding) and (2) Publishing - getting quality papers out there that *someone* notices.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Oh yeah, under the category of computers. With the advent and explosive growth of cluster computing, the ability to analyze problems and develop solutions that utilize heavily parallel computing approaches is a major plus.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Under the category of "in case you care" - my Masters and Ph.D. research work were in electron spin resonance of organic single crystals - so it was a simple problem near the boundaries of Physics, Chemistry and some BioChem mixed in.<br /><br />Sounds FAR more impressive than it actually is, but I have a lot of good books to show for it. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>