![]() ![]() Atmospheric scientists who work for NASA think about weather and climate events in outer space all the time. If you have never thought about weather phenomena in space, perhaps you should. Graduate programs in astronomy tend to be research-heavy, and students will most likely have to complete some original research and a thesis (for a master’s degree) or a dissertation (for a Ph.D.) to earn an advanced degree in the field.įor the 460 astronomers who worked for the federal government in 2020, the average annual wage was $70.40 per hour, or $146,440 per year, according to the BLS. In your graduate-level work, you may choose an academic concentration in a subfield like planetary astronomy, stellar astronomy, galactic astronomy or cosmology, the origins of the universe. Aspiring NASA astronomers, especially those who hope to advance to a high level of research work or potentially become an astronaut, should plan on going to graduate school. More than 90 percent of astronomers reported having at least a doctoral degree, and nearly two-thirds of the occupation had completed postdoctoral training, O*NET reported. in astronomy to work in this scientific discipline, the BLS reported. An undergraduate degree program in astronomy includes coursework in introductory through advanced astronomy, computer science and mathematics classes such as statistics, linear algebra and calculus, according to the BLS.Ī bachelor’s degree often isn’t enough to study the mysteries of the universe as an astronomer. ![]() If you would like to work as a NASA astronomer, the first thing you need to do is start working toward earning an astronomy degree. NASA astronomers aren’t the only astronomers who are undertaking the challenge of discovering new truths about the celestial bodies, solar systems, galaxies and universe, but they do have access to special tools and resources, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA observatories. Much of the data on which you base your research comes from satellites, but astronomers also gain information through telescopes. You will spend a lot of time using computer modeling software and mathematical formulas and calculations to manipulate and make sense of data. If you work at NASA as an astronomer, you’re likely to spend your workdays in much the same way as astronomers in academia or in scientific research and development. Nearly one in four astronomers worked for the federal government as of 2020, according to the BLS. To gather and evaluate data, astronomers use telescopes on Earth and probes that have been launched into space. Astronomers address questions about the stars, planets, comets, galaxies and other celestial bodies. AstronomyĪstronomy is the scientific study of the objects that compose the universe. Other NASA employees do their work in office buildings, laboratories and even wind tunnels, according to NASA. If most NASA scientists don’t actually work in space, what are their work environments like? Some NASA scientists, as you might expect, work in control rooms and on airfields. The legion of NASA scientists that support space exploration efforts may work behind the scenes in some capacity, but these highly educated professionals are essential to making safe, successful missions happen. Of the 17,000 workers employed by NASA as of 2016, just 45 were active astronauts, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. News & World Report.Īlthough astronaut may be the most well-known NASA job, most NASA scientists complete their work from locations on Earth, not out in the vastness of outer space. A master’s degree in one of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields is a typical requirement for astronauts, according to U.S. ![]() What Degree Do You Need to Work at NASA as a Scientist?įor aspiring astronauts and others who want to work at NASA, a bachelor’s degree in just about any of the physical and biological sciences can help you qualify for employment with the agency and potentially put you on the path to the astronaut candidate program. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. ![]()
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