Branches of Astronomy
- May 16, 2022
- 4 min read
In order to discuss the branches of Astronomy, we must first define what the term “Astronomy” even means. Astronomy is a branch of science, in which “celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole” (Oxford, n.d.) are studied. With such a broad field with a wide range of topics, Astronomy can often be split into many different branches!
Astrobiology
Astrobiology is a branch in Astronomy that is “concerned with the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the Universe” (Graduate School, n.d.). Essentially, the goal of Astrobiology is to find and study life beyond Earth. Some potential locations in our very own Solar System that scientists believe life may have once, or still does, exist(ed) are Venus, Mars, and Saturn’s Moon, Titan, to name a few. Engineers and Scientists have worked together to create numerous missions to potential life-bearing locations. These missions often study atmospheric composition and the terrain of the planet to scout out potential evidence of life. One such example is ESA’s ExoMars mission which is designed to “test for organic gas methane in the martian atmosphere” (NASA, n.d.). Finding organic gasses, such as methane, can be important because they provide evidence for microbial life.
Astrochemistry
Astrochemistry is a branch in Astronomy that “examines chemical compositions and processes” for celestial objects, such as stars and planets (American Chemical Society, n.d.). By doing so, scientists learn how atoms and molecules interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, help further our understanding about geological processes on other planets, and examine molecules to help pinpoint the conditions necessary for life to exist.
Astrogeology
Astrogeology (also known as Planetary Geology) is a subfield that “focuses on the geology of the planets and their moons, asteroids”, etc. (CareerExplorer, n.d.). In order to do so, scientists study “internal structure[s]” of planets, rock samples, and surface activity (such as “volcanos, lava flows, [...], rift valleys, wind activity”, etc.) (CareerExplorer, n.d.). In order to do so, space companies, such as NASA and ESA, often send rovers, satellites, and other equipment to collect data. For example, NASA’s Perseverance rover was sent to Mars in 2020 so that it can study Mars's terrain and collect rock samples, which will then be sent back to Earth using an ESA orbiter.
Astrometry
Astrometry is a subfield that “focuses on the precise measurement” of the location and position of stars and other celestial bodies in space (CareerExplorer, n.d.). By making these measurements, scientists can learn a wide variety of new information about these objects, such as “on the movements and origin of the Solar System and the Milky Way” (CareerExplorer, n.d.), as well as the distribution of dark matter. Astrometry can also be used to make error corrections. These errors can be created by the observer or the instrument used.
Astrophysics
In Astrophysics, scientists use “the application of physics and related sciences” and apply them “to explain natural phenomena in the general field of Astronomy” (Graduate School, n.d.). There are two subfields within Astrophysics: Theoretical Astrophysics and Observational Astrophysics. Theoretical Astrophysics often focuses on creating models and computer simulations to figure out what observational data could mean, in regards to the Universe. Observational Astrophysics, on the other hand, focuses on collecting data via telescopes by using them to observe celestial objects. A recent example is NASA’s and ESA’s James Webb Telescope, launched in late 2021, which is designed to collect data from exoplanets to the earliest galaxies.
Cosmology
Cosmology is a subfield in Astronomy that is dedicated to studying “the history and development of large scale features of the Universe” (Graduate School, n.d.). Essentially, Cosmology studies a variety of topics, such as dark matter and dark energy, in order to pinpoint why the Universe exists and how it came to be. Just like in Astrophysics, Cosmology often relies on data collected from telescopes to form hypotheses to answer questions about the early Universe. These questions can vary from “how old is the Universe” to “is the Universe finite or infinite”.
While the field of Astronomy may initially seem limited, it actually has many subfields within it, many of which we have not gone over in this blog. Furthermore, it is important to note that while it may seem as if these subfields have strict boundaries dividing them from the rest, in reality, they often have many topics in common, and thus the fields often interchange.
Thank you for reading our blog all the way to the end! We hope you learned something new about the life cycle of stars. Make sure to like, comment, and share! We’re also on Instagram @midnight___eclipse- you can find us through search or by clicking the Instagram icon on the top right corner! To find more information of the topics (e.g. planets, dark matter) mentioned, check out our previous blogs! As always, keep gazing skywards!
Bibliography
Astrochemistry. American Chemical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2022, from
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/chemical-sciences/fields/astrochemistry.html
Graduate School. Graduate School iCal. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2022, from
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/astronomy-and-space-sciences/
NASA. (n.d.). NASA astrobiology. NASA. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/about/
Oxford languages and google - english. Oxford Languages. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
Shekhtman, S. (2021, October 6). NASA's perseverance initiates remarkable sample return mission. NASA.
Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/with-first-martian-samples-packed-perseverance-initiates-remarkable-sample-return-mission
What are the sub-fields of astronomy? CareerExplorer. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2022, from
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/questions/218/what-are-the-subfields-of-astronomy/
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