What Is Astronomy? Branches and Fields of Study

Astronomy studies Celestial objects such as stars, planets, comets and galaxies from a scientific perspective.

The study includes phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere , As the cosmic background radiation. It is one of the oldest sciences that has among its priorities the study of evolution, physical , chemistry , Meteorology and the movement of celestial bodies, as well as the way in which the universe originated and developed.

Astronomers of early civilizations made methodical observations of the sky during the night. Even older astronomical artifacts have been found than the earliest recorded civilizations historically.

Thus, the invention of the telescope occurred before astronomy was even considered a modern science.

Historically, astronomy has included diverse disciplines like astrometry, celestial navigation, astronomical observation, the manufacture of calendars and even, at one time, astrology. However, today’s professional astronomy is comparable to astrophysics (Redd, 2012).

Since the twentieth century, the field of professional astronomy has been divided into branches responsible for observing the celestial bodies and others in charge of analyzing the theory that emerges from the study of them.

The most frequently studied star is the Sun, a main sequence dwarf star typical of the star class G2 V, and approximately 4.6 Gyr in age.

The Sun is not considered a variable star, but it does go through periodic changes in activity known as the sunspot cycle.

Astronomy Branches

As already mentioned, astronomy is divided into two branches: astronomy of observation and theoretical astronomy.

Observation astronomy focuses on acquiring information and analyzing data using the basic physical principles. Theoretical astronomy is oriented to the development of analytical computer models to describe objects and astronomical phenomena.

The two fields of astronomy complement each other, so that theoretical astronomy is responsible for seeking an explanation for the results of astronomy observation.

Also, observational astronomy is used to confirm the results given by theoretical astronomy (Physics, 2015).

Beginning astronomers have contributed many important astronomical discoveries. In this way, astronomy is considered one of the few sciences where beginning scientists can play an active and important role, especially in the discovery and observation of transient phenomena (Daily, 2016).

Observation astronomy

Observation astronomy is the field of astronomy that focuses on the direct study of stars, planets, galaxies and any type of celestial body of the universe.

For this field, astronomy uses the telescope, however, the first astronomers observed the celestial bodies without any help.

The modern constellations were conceived by the first astronomers from the observation of the night sky. In this way, five planets of the solar system were identified (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) and the modern constellations were proposed.

Modern telescopes (reflectors and refractors) were invented to reveal in greater detail what could be found with the naked eye (California, 2002).

Theoretical Astronomy

Theoretical astronomy is the branch of astronomy that allows to analyze the way in which the systems have evolved.

Unlike many other fields of science, astronomers can not observe any system completely from the moment it is born to the one that dies. The origin of planets, stars and galaxies dates back to millions (even billions) of years ago.

Therefore, astronomers must rely on photographs of celestial bodies in different evolutionary states to determine how they were formed, evolved, and died.

In this way, theoretical astronomy tends to mingle with observation, as it takes data from it to create simulations.

Fields of study

Astronomy is divided into several fields of study that allow scientists to specialize in specific objects and phenomena.

Planetary, solar and stellar astronomy

These types of astronomy study the growth, evolution, and death of celestial bodies.

In this way, planetary astronomy studies the planets, the solar studies the Sun and stellar studies the stars, black holes, nebulae, white dwarfs and supernovae surviving stellar deaths.

Astronomy galactic

This field of astronomy studies our galaxy, known as the Milky Way. On the other hand, extra-galactic astronomers concentrate on studying everything that lives outside our galaxy in order to determine how the collections of stars are formed, change and die.

Cosmology

Cosmology focuses on the universe as a whole, from the time of its violent birth (Big Bang) to its present evolution and eventual death.

Astronomy usually deals with point phenomena and observable objects. However, cosmology typically involves larger-scale properties of the universe in a more esoteric, invisible, and in many cases, purely theoretical.

String theory, dark matter and energy, and the notion of multiple universes belong to the realm of cosmology (Redd, Space.com, 2012).

Astrometry

Astrometry is the oldest branch of astronomy. It is in charge of measuring the Sun, Moon And the planets.

Precise calculations of the movements of these bodies have allowed astronomers in other fields to determine the model of birth and evolution of planets and stars.

In this way, they have been able to predict events such as eclipses, meteor showers and the appearance of comets.

Early astronomers were able to identify patterns in the sky and tried to organize them in such a way that they could follow their movements.

These patterns were called constellations and helped populations measure the seasons of the year.

The movement of stars and other celestial bodies was traced around the world, but was carried out with greater force in China, Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, Central America and India (Zacharias, 2010).

Astronomy Today

Most of the astronomical observations that are made today, are done remotely.

Thus, the telescopes used are located in space or in specific places of the Earth and astronomers watch them from a computer, where they store images and data.

Thanks to advances in photography, especially digital photography, astronomers have been able to capture incredible photos of space, not only for scientific purposes, but also to keep the general public aware of celestial phenomena (Naff, 2006).

References

1. California, U. (2002). University of California . Retrieved from”Introduction to Telescopes: earthguide.ucsd.edu”.
2. Daily, S. (2016). Science Daily . From Astronomy: sciencedaily.com
3. Naff, C.F. (2006). Astronomy. Greenhaven Press.
4. Physics, S. o. (2015). School of Physics . Retrieved from About the Disciplines: physics.gmu.edu.
5. Redd, N. T. (June 6, 2012). com . Obtained from What is Astronomy? Definition & History: space.com.
6. Redd, N. T. (June 7, 2012). com . Obtained from What Is Cosmology? Definition & History: space.com.
7. Zacharias, N. (2010). Scholarpedia . Obtained from Astrometry: scholarpedia.org.

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What Is Astronomy? Branches and Fields of Study