Astronomer or Astronaut? I’m confused!
Yes, I know they all start with the letter A and have something to do with the planets and everything in the Solar System. When you were little (or until now), you might have wanted to be one of three one way or another. You also might have thought that they are all the same - they are all different and I will explain each of them.
Astronomer
When I was a kid, I told myself that I wanted to be an Astronomer. I was so fascinated by the stars, the planets, and the moon and wished to go there too. Ever since I can remember, I’ve want to study everything about them! I was like that whenever I looked up in the sky to see the stars and the moon. As I grew older and watched different documentaries on outer space, I thought, wow, I want to do that too!
I was that confused. So now, let’s not confuse ourselves even more shall we?
What is an Astronomer? Basically, astronomers are scientists who study the Universe and the objects within it. There are so many fascinating things to learn about in the Universe that astronomers frequently specialize in galaxies, stars, planets, star-forming regions, the Sun, the search for life, or the origin and evolution of the Universe as a whole. Many astronomers are also professors at universities or colleges, where they spend time teaching as well as conducting research. Other astronomers assist in the planning and support of space missions.
Amazing isn’t it? There are so many things that Astronomers can do. You may have heard about famous people unknowingly they are astronomers too.
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642)
This painting of Galileo dates back to about 1640.
Image Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Galileo was born in Italy and is widely credited with inventing the optical telescope, though he merely improved on existing models. He built his first telescope in 1609, modeled after telescopes made in other parts of Europe that could magnify objects three times. Later that year, he invented a telescope that could magnify objects twenty times.
This is a sample photo of Galileo’s telescope. Credit: Museo Galileo
As an astronomer, he directed the new telescope toward the sky, where he discovered Jupiter's four primary moons (now known as the Galilean moons) and Saturn's rings.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727)
Then there’s Sir Isaac Newton. Who doesn’t know him? Best known for his research into forces, particularly gravity. Building on the work of those before him — he is quoted as saying, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" — he calculated three laws that describe the motion of forces between objects, now known as Newton's laws.
Newton's laws of motion and gravity explained the Earth's yearly orbit around the Sun. The Earth would move in a straight line through the universe, but the Sun exerts a constant gravitational pull on our planet. This force bends Earth's path toward the Sun, causing it to enter an elliptical (almost circular) orbit.
Galileo and Newton both paved the way for future astronomers’ discoveries, that we enjoy today.
Astronauts
What exactly are astronauts? According to NASA, the term "astronaut" comes from Greek words that mean "space sailor," and it refers to anyone who has served as a crew member on a NASA spacecraft heading for orbit and beyond. The term "astronaut" has been kept as the title for individuals chosen to join the NASA corps of astronauts who work in space.
We took a huge step back in the past to discuss the most well-known astronomers, so now, we will step just a little to find out the most famous astronauts we look up to until this day. You must have read about them during your Science class or have Googled them one or another, so I will refresh your memory (in case you forgot!). Let’s take a little time traveling, shall we?
Who would ever forget the mission of Apollo 11 in 1961? It was the mission that cemented (figuratively and literally) humankind’s capability of exploring our very own Moon. It was the realization of countless people's aspirations who had gazed in amazement at Earth's dazzling satellite for decades.
Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)
Neil Armstrong was famous for saying the words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” These words still resonate over half a century later. His words sent amazement and hope for the future astronauts and the pictures they sent from the Moon also gave hope to humankind that everything is possible.
Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.
As he tests the mechanics of the lunar surface, Aldrin shot this photo of his boot and a partial bootprint. The pebble in front of his toe is approximately 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
The picture above shows Buzz Aldrin saluting the American flag while facing the Sun.
The astronauts collected soil samples, deployed scientific experiments, planted a US flag, and spoke with President Nixon at the Oval office, for two and a half hours. While everything was going on, Michael Collins, the third member of the Apollo 11 crew, was orbiting 66 miles (106 kilometers) above the surface.
Years after they went to the Moon, NASA continued to launch several space missions to further study outer space - it was indeed a giant leap for mankind.
