Many kids are fascinated by stars, planets, comets, and other celestial objects. If you are one of those kids, then a career in Astronomy awaits you.
How to become an Astronomer
Unfortunately there are not many bachelors programs in ‘Astronomy’. If you want to study Astronomy, the best option is to pursue a bachelor’s degree (B.Sc) in Physics and/or Mathematics and then join a Masters (M.Sc) program in Astronomy. One can join the Masters degree in Astronomy even after a B.Tech/B.E. in say Electrical/Electronics/Computer engineering, but a Bachelors Degree in Physics is highly recommended.
Specialized 5 year integrated Masters programs in Astronomy/Astrophysics
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IISC)in Thiruvananthapuram offers a 5 year dual degree B-Tech + MS program – with a B.Tech. degree in Engineering Physics and a Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics. There are other 5 year integrated (Bachelors +Masters) programs in Physical Science (Astronomy is part of the Physical Science coursework) offered by
- IISERs (Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram)
- NISER, Bhubaneswar
- University of Mumbai (Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence)
- The Integrated Science Education and Research Centre, Visva-Bharati
Admission to these programs is highly competitive. If you do not succeed in securing admission to one of these programs, do not worry. You could pursue a B.Sc. in Physics degree from any university in India and then join the M.Sc program in Astronomy. If you, however, want a successful career in Astronomy or Astrophysics, you should seriously consider pursuing your PhD in this subject.
Careers in Astronomy
A career in Astronomy mainly involves research and can be broadly classified into Theoretical Research or Observational Research. in India several organizations such as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) etc. hire researchers in the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics. You can also find opportunities with research organizations abroad.
Recommended Add-on Skills and Activities for budding Astronomers
For those interested in a career in Astronomy, here are a few add-on tasks that I would recommend
- Join the ‘Amateur Astronomy Society’. You could be a student member and get actively involved in the activities they conduct.
- Subscribe to a few Astronomy Journals (online or print). Read them regularly to keep yourself updated on the current advancements in the field.
- Learn computer programming.
Happy Star Gazing 🙂
In 2005 Jay Rege, along with his wife Jothsna Rege, co-founded Academy One, a career guidance and study abroad counseling venture. Prior to co-founding Academy One, he worked as a software developer with HCL Technologies. He holds a computer engineering degree from Mumbai University and a MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, USA. He has also been a visiting faculty at a few colleges where he teaches topics related to entrepreneurship.