What is astronomy, astrophysics, and space science?
Astronomy & Astrophysics deals with studying and understanding all large scale objects. Astronomers look at all things from the planets in our own solar system to galaxies like the one we live in, and even at the entire universe itself.
Astronomy is the study and measurement of the physical properties of extraterrestrial objects. This aids in the development of physical law and theorems which can be applied to the large scale world (ie planets, stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole).
Astrophysics is the application of physical law and theorems to the information gathered by observing extraterrestrial objects. This can be used to predict the existence of unseen objects, and the future motion and evolution of observed objects.
All heavenly objects emit or reflect light (or electromagnetic radiation). This radiation is spread across a wide range of wavelengths, including (but not limited to) the visible spectrum (i.e. the colours we see every day).
To help astronomers properly understand what is happening they need to look at more than just the visible light coming from these objects. To do this, a vast range of different telescopes have been built.
The light which we see when we look at a star is only a very small part of the radiation coming from that star. So, if astronomers were to only look at the visible light in the universe they would only be getting a very small part of the picture. For this reason, astronomers have designed and built telescopes (some which don’t really look like a telescope at all) which look at all of the different wavelengths of light.
Despite the wide range of sizes and shapes, all telescopes work on the same principles: radiation is collected, focused and recorded.
Different telescopes are classed by the range of wavelengths, or band, they are designed to collect: Gamma-ray, X-ray, UV (UltraViolet), Optical, IR (InfraRed), Microwave, or Radio.
Space Science
The best way to think of space science is that it is the application of the physical sciences to all things space.
In this way, astrophysics is one of the space sciences. Some other space sciences include astrobiology, chemistry and helioseismology, but the list goes on.
Almost every physical science has some form of application in space.
Astronomy is the study and measurement of the physical properties of extraterrestrial objects. This aids in the development of physical law and theorems which can be applied to the large scale world (ie planets, stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole).
Astrophysics is the application of physical law and theorems to the information gathered by observing extraterrestrial objects. This can be used to predict the existence of unseen objects, and the future motion and evolution of observed objects.
All heavenly objects emit or reflect light (or electromagnetic radiation). This radiation is spread across a wide range of wavelengths, including (but not limited to) the visible spectrum (i.e. the colours we see every day).
To help astronomers properly understand what is happening they need to look at more than just the visible light coming from these objects. To do this, a vast range of different telescopes have been built.
The light which we see when we look at a star is only a very small part of the radiation coming from that star. So, if astronomers were to only look at the visible light in the universe they would only be getting a very small part of the picture. For this reason, astronomers have designed and built telescopes (some which don’t really look like a telescope at all) which look at all of the different wavelengths of light.
Despite the wide range of sizes and shapes, all telescopes work on the same principles: radiation is collected, focused and recorded.
Different telescopes are classed by the range of wavelengths, or band, they are designed to collect: Gamma-ray, X-ray, UV (UltraViolet), Optical, IR (InfraRed), Microwave, or Radio.
Space Science
The best way to think of space science is that it is the application of the physical sciences to all things space.
In this way, astrophysics is one of the space sciences. Some other space sciences include astrobiology, chemistry and helioseismology, but the list goes on.
Almost every physical science has some form of application in space.