“What can I do in astronomy with a major in…”
Are you interested in pursuing a career in astronomy with a degree in
computer science? Graduates in computer science enjoy a large range of job
options in a number of different fields related to the subject of astronomy.
Academic
Non-academic
College/University: Approximately 55%
of astronomers are employed at or affiliated
with higher education institutions. A Ph.D.
is generally required, and teaching is often
a prominent, if not primary, component of
the job. Positions at such places include:
- Professor
- Research scientist
- Facilities director
National institute/lab: Public research labs
employ astronomers for satellite design,
mission tracking, and
aerospace/aeronautics. Additionally,
publicly funded observatories employ
astronomers as telescope operators, and
instrumentalists. Some examples include:
- NASA
- National Optical Astronomy
Observatory
- Naval Research Laboratory
- Space Telescope Science Institute
Infrastructure: Universities and
observatories need help handling massive
amounts of data. You could focus on
information management, databases, and
algorithm development. Examples include:
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
- Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber
Spectroscopic Telescope
Private industry: Private aerospace
companies are growing in number as
NASA cooperates on space missions. You
work in remote sensing, robotics, or
satellite programming.
- Space Exploration Technologies
(SpaceX)
- Lockheed Martin
- Virgin Galactic
Software development: Many companies
and publishers offer planetarium-style
software for sale or bundling with
textbooks. Planetariums also buy high-end
software for their facilities.
For more information about careers in astronomy, visit the American Astronomical
Society’s website:
http://aas.org/learn/careers-astronomy