Yes! Examples include jobs in computing and image processing, as a science librarian, science educator, planetarium or science museum director, instrument designer or builder, and observing technician. At NOAO, only about 1 in 6 staff members is an astronomer, meaning for every astronomer, there are 5 technical support positions on the payroll such as telescope operator, observing assistant, optical engineer, design drafting technician, and more.

Various studies show that approximately: 25% of homeless adults are employed full- or part-time 40% of homeless people had wage-paying jobs in the last 30 days 20% of homeless people receive some kind of governmental financial assistance.

You can read this screen because your eyes detect light. Light consists of electromagnetic waves. The different colors of light are electromagnetic waves of different lengths. Visible light, however, covers only a small part of the range of wavelengths in which electromagnetic waves can be produced. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of much greater wavelength than those of light.

The World Wide Web is a gold mine of information on astronomy and space science. This includes everything from on-line astronomy courses to archives of thousands of astronomical images. An excellent starting point is the AstroWeb site.

Solar astronomers can easily justify their object of study, since the Sun sustains all life on earth. In addition, certain behaviors of the Sun have a dramatic effect on our daily lives. The 11 year cycle of solar activity includes huge solar flares and large numbers of sunspots at its peak. This results in charged particles bombarding the earth and interfering with telecommunications, power grids, and even the yield of semiconductor chip production.

Just about anything. Here's a list of some occupations in which blind people are working today, but there are many more.

Sometimes. Since most jobs require speech and language skills, aphasia can make some types of work difficult. Individuals with mild or even moderate aphasia are sometimes able to work, but they may have to change jobs. Some resources for aphasics looking for work are as follows: National Organization on Disability (NOD), www.nod.org, (202) 293-5960. Lists organizations recruiting and/or assisting people with disabilities in securing jobs. Job Accommodation Network, www.jan.wvu.

You can use virtually any binocular to enjoy the night sky, but some binoculars are better than others. Generally, a dedicated astronomy binocular has a magnification of at least 7x to 8x, and an aperture of at least 40mm. Amateur astronomer's passion for binocular astronomy has led to the development of large aperture binoculars that can rival the light gathering power of small telescopes.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated by Associated Universities, Inc., a nonprofit research organization. The NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the scientific community. We conceive, design, build, operate and maintain radio telescopes used by scientists from around the world.

There are about 100 U.S. colleges and universities that offer a Ph.D. in astronomy and many more that offer other degrees. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) has a career brochure with advice on selecting an appropriate college. (See question #14 in this FAQ for ordering information.) When selecting a college, consider your preference for a small school or a large university and visit the campus before making a final decision.

No, many astronomers majored in physics in college. Physics can give you a more enriched education in the physical sciences. Students with a strong core of physics classes in addition to some astronomy research experience are most attractive to astronomy graduate school admissions committees. Depending on the program, this can be obtained with a degree in either physics or astronomy. A Bachelor of Science (B.S.

A10: We do get a lot of e-mail and can't promise to respond due to time constraints. On the other hand, there are specific web sites that are devoted to providing answers to astronomy questions. At least one of these keeps an impressive archive of answers to many astronomy questions: Ask the Astronomer with even more questions and answers at Ask the Space Scientist. You can also try Goddard Space Flight Center's excellent Ask A High Energy Astronomer service.

In my opinion, it doesn't matter where you get your undergraduate degree, as long as you do research as an undergraduate. When you're shopping for colleges, I suggest that you look for one that offers an astronomy major (not just a minor) and ask about undergraduate opportunities for research. Some people say that Caltech or MIT are the only places to go, but they're just snobs. : ) You can save a lot of money at a state school.

Technically speaking, astronomy is the science of measuring the positions and characteristics of heavenly bodies, and astrophysics is the application of physics to understand astronomy. However, nowadays, the two terms are more or less interchangeable since all astronomers generally use physics to understand their findings. (My husband tells people I'm an astrophysicist because sometimes when he says I'm an astronomer they think I do astrology.)

Astrology is a pseudo-science which claims that the positions of the heavenly bodies have an effect on the lives of human beings and events on Earth. Astrology has many of the trappings of real science, like math and complicated diagrams and a specialized vocabulary, but astrologers do not follow the scientific method. Real scientists make careful measurements in well-controlled studies. Astrologers don't do experiments to prove their theories.

People with disabilities (like anyone else) chose jobs that will match their abilities and interest. Therefore, the employment selection is up to each individual and his/her realistic opportunities and skills.

Four other functions originally identified for review (laboratory safety, fire protection and suppression, committee management, and the intramural research fellow program/category 2 senior scientists) were removed from the list as a result of the pre-planning process.

The JobLink Career Center is a resource for you to use during your job search or career exploration. We do not get you a job; however, staff is available on-site to advise you during your job search.