Astronomy

Astronomy (from Greek: ἀστρονομία) is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It applies mathematics, physics, and chemistry in an effort to explain the origin of those objects and phenomena and their evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, galaxies, and comets; the phenomena also includes supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. More generally, all phenomena that originate outside Earth's atmosphere are within the purview of astronomy. A related but distinct subject is physical cosmology, which is the study of the Universe as a whole.

Astronomy is one of the oldest of the natural sciences. The early civilizations in recorded history, such as the Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Nubians, Iranians, Chinese, Maya, and many ancient indigenous peoples of the Americas, performed methodical observations of the night sky. Historically, astronomy has included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, and the making of calendars, but professional astronomy is now often considered to be synonymous with astrophysics.

Professional astronomy is split into observational and theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of astronomical objects, which is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. The two fields complement each other, with theoretical astronomy seeking to explain observational results and observations being used to confirm theoretical results.

Astronomy is one of the few sciences in which amateurs still play an active role, especially in the discovery and observation of transient events. Amateur astronomers have made and contributed to many important astronomical discoveries, such as finding new comets.

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Matching Astronomy Colleges

The Pennsylvania State University

Four or more years; Public; $25,084 average out-state tuition; $15,400 average in-state tuition

University of Colorado Boulder

Four or more years; Public; $36,554 average out-state tuition; $10,806 average in-state tuition

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Four or more years; Public; $38,757 average out-state tuition; $10,927 average in-state tuition

University of Maryland-College Park

Four or more years; Public; $36,683 average out-state tuition; $9,000 average in-state tuition

The University of Texas at Austin

Four or more years; Public; $40,996 average out-state tuition; $11,752 average in-state tuition

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $34,101 average out-state tuition; $11,018 average in-state tuition

University of Florida

Four or more years; Public; $25,694 average out-state tuition; $4,477 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Astronomy Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of Science

University of Notre Dame

$25,000 January 01, 2025 See Details
 

Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of Science

University of Notre Dame

award

$25,000

deadline

January 01, 2025
See Details
 

Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2024 See Details
 

Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2024
See Details
 

Astronaut Scholarship in Science and Technology

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

Up to $15,000 Varies See Details
 

Astronaut Scholarship in Science and Technology

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

NSF S-STEM Scholarship

University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth

Up to $10,000 Varies See Details
 

NSF S-STEM Scholarship

University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect, Inc.

$10,000 April 07, 2024 See Details
 

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect, Inc.

award

$10,000

deadline

April 07, 2024
See Details
 

Richard and Muriel Saunders Family Scholarship

Colorado Mesa University

$10,000 August 01, 2024 See Details
 

Richard and Muriel Saunders Family Scholarship

Colorado Mesa University

award

$10,000

deadline

August 01, 2024
See Details