About Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a scientific study of celestial object that include galaxies, comets, stars and planets. It is also a phenomenon that evolves outside the atmosphere of the earth like the cosmic background radiation. Apart from this, Astronomy is also concerned with the physics, evolution, meteorology, chemistry and motion of the celestial objects and also the development and formation of the universe.
Astronomy in early times
Astronomy is widely regarded to be one of the oldest type of science. The astronomers of early civilization carried out a methodical observation of the night sky and there are astronomical artifacts which have been found from a much earlier period. However, before astronomy was able to develop into modern science it actually required the invention of telescope. In the past, astronomy has incorporated disciplines as diverse as celestial navigation, astrometry, the making of calendars, observational astronomy and also astrology, but the professional astronomy of today is basically considered to be identical with astrophysics. From the 20th century the platform of professional astronomy split into theoretical and observational branches.
The observational astronomy is basically focused on gaining and studying the data which basically used the principles of physics. However, the theoretical astronomy is actually sloping towards the development of analytical or computer models in order to describe the vast astronomical objects and their phenomena. These two fields balance each other with the theoretical astronomy looking towards explaining the observational results of astronomy and there are observations that are also used to confirm the theoretical basis.
Amateur astronomy
Apart from this the amateur astronomers have also contributed a lot towards various significant astronomical discoveries and besides this astronomy is the only among the selective science where the amateurs still have a major role to play. This is specially in the observation and discovery of transient phenomena. The older of ancient astronomy is actually not to be confused with astrology. This is because the belief system that claims that the human affairs are connected wit the positions of the celestial objects. Although the two fields share the same basic origin and concept which are a part of their methods they are distinct in their own way. Amateur astronomers basically observe a variety of celestial phenomena and objects with equipments which they have build themselves. Some of the common targets of the amateur astronomers include stars, planets, moon, meteor showers, comets and a variety of deep sky objects. One of the branches of amateur astronomy, the amateur astrophotography involves in the field of taking photographs of night sky. Most the amateurs like to actually specialize in the observation of particular objects or types of events that interest them.
Major questions in astronomy
Although science discipline of astronomy has made a marvelous strides in explaining the nature of the universe and the content of the universe there are also a few important questions that are unanswered. The answers to these might require the construction of new space based instruments and new concepts and might possibly also require new developments in the theoretical and observatory experimental physics.