Space science covers an expansive scope of disciplines, from meteorology and geology to lunar, solar, and planetary science, to astrophysics and astronomy. Nearly every physical science can be used in space in some way. Astrobiology, and helioseismology are also among the other fields of space science. One of the oldest scientific fields, astronomy has progressed from counting stars with one's naked eye to the impressive display of human technological advances we see today.

Since the early civilizations, when astronomers made methodical observations of the night sky, astronomy has been studied as a field for centuries. In the second half of the 19th century, new and completely unanticipated avenues of astronomical research were opened by the discovery of spectroscopy, a field of study that investigates the capacity of matter to divide light into various wavelengths according to its chemical composition.

Observational astronomy, which uses telescopes and cameras to collect data about the night sky, and theoretical astronomy, which uses that data to analyze, model, and theorize about how objects and phenomena work, have been the two main subfields of astronomy over the past century or so. Modern astronomy encompasses a wide range of subfields, from astrometry to exoplanetology, within these two broad categories, which serve as a complement to one another.

Study Levels:

With a degree fixated on physical science and math, space science majors use the information to model the universe. Students may go on to work in a variety of science-related fields or earn advanced degrees. This sub-discipline offers a variety of study levels, including:

• B.Sc in Astronomy
• B.Sc in Astronomy and Astrophysics
• B.Sc in Astrophysics and Mathematics
• B.Sc in Planetary Science and Astronomy
• B.Sc in Physics, Astronomy, and Cosmology
• B.Sc Astrophysics and Geology
• M.Sc in Astronomy
• M.Sc in Physics and Astronomy
• M.Sc in Astrophysics and Cosmology
• M.Sc in Astronomy and Space Science
• Ph.D in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Specialisations:

Students who excel in math and science and have an interest in space may be well-suited for this sub-discipline, which requires creative problem-solving and reasoning skills. Astronomers typically concentrate on a single specialization. The division of astronomy into a number of subfields enables researchers to concentrate on particular phenomena and objects. The various specializations that can be found are:

• Astrophysics
• Planetary Astronomy & Science
• Astrobiology
• Cosmology
• Planetary geology
• Astronautics
• Aeronautics
• Observational Astronomy
• Astro statistics
• Extragalactic Astronomy
• Radio Astronomy
• Extragalactic Astronomy
• Radio Astronomy
• Instrumentation

Employability:

Since the study of astronomy and space science spans a wide range of areas, there are numerous job openings in this field. After graduation, students who major in astronomy and space science and have a broad education in physics and mathematics have many career options. Most programs aim to give students the fundamental knowledge and experience needed for graduate work in astrophysics or astronomy.

A career in this field requires in-depth knowledge of math and science and specialization in engineering and computer programming. A career as an astronomer will involve in-depth research into the fundamental processes that govern the universe, whether through telescopes in observational astronomy or computer models in theoretical astronomy. The various career choices include:

• Astronomer
• Climatologist
• Planetary Geologist
• Research Scientist
• Aeronautical Engineer
• Astrobiologist
• Teacher/Professor
• Meteorologist
• Astrophysicist
• Cosmologist
• Telescope design engineer
• Planetarium Director