Astronomy as a Hobby, but What’s Next?

Adrianna Deptuła
Sep 22
4 min read

Hi there!

Today, I am discussing a very interesting topic. We all know that astronomy is a field with numerous options for discovery, but when I finished high school, I wasn’t sure what to do next. How can I study a field I’m passionate about, while also finding ways to connect it with to my true passion? I started googling, and found out that I can study astronomy at Jagiellonian University. But wait - is that the only way to become an astronomer? Of course not, and in this article, I will look for many other opportunities to connect your hobby and work, and become a part of the astronomy industry.

This article is the second part of my first piece on how I began my journey with astronomy. Today, however, we’ll be talking about what comes next!

Ways of Education

This will be the easiest part of this article. Why? Because you can work in the astronomy industry, studying anything you want. NASA hires not only astronomers, astrophysicists, engineers, but also lawyers, doctors, accountants, and many other types of professionals. In fact, you can study whatever you want and just do astronomy as a hobby, and after graduation, look for a job at NASA related to your degree. According to NASA, the best degrees are: engineering, biological science, physics, computer science, and mathematics. They also need video producers, programmers, and even clothing technicians, because without them, we would not be able to create a quality spacesuit. Just as we rely on computer scientists to create models of celestial objects, engineers to design spacecrafts, or chemists to develop materials that can withstand the harsh conditions of space, the “unimportant” jobs are just as important, if not more so!

How many career paths are in the space industry right now?

After spending countless hours searching for the exact number of careers, I discovered that there are, in fact, thousands of opportunities. I hadn’t realized the scale of the space industry before writing this article. The page SpaceCrew.com came to the rescue.

Starting in Aerospace Engineering, there were 3784 open positions in ULA, Rolls-Royce, Interstellar Lab, Relativity Space, MDA, SpaceX, and many more.

Are you an accountant? No problem, there is a position in Blue Origin waiting for you. ULA and MDA are also looking for this position.

As for lawyers, there are numerous positions for them at SpaceX.

ESA, no problem, like NASA, they have additional pages only for careers. To become an astronaut, you just need a bachelor's degree in the STEM field. It might sound easy, but in fact, there is a lot of additional training, from learning how to pilot a spacecraft, conducting research in unfamiliar environments, to pushing their bodies to the limits, and this can take a lot of years, so it is not that easy, but it is worth it.

A degree does not mean everything - knowledge is the key.

Firstly, looking for the opportunity to meet people with the same passion for astronomy as yourself is important. Astronomy is extremely broad, as we previously discovered, and the more people you can speak to, the better. I met people like me here at NOVA, and I am so happy to be a part of it. Trust your heart and participate in local stargazing events or even create your own astronomy club. Look for Citizen Science Projects from ESA or NASA, or their internship programs. You need to do this first step; you can gain stars and explore the universe, trust me! Sign up for astronomy events and take part in astronomy competitions and hackathons like the European Rover Challenge or NASA Space Apps Challenge. You need to get yourself together and do something!!

Space Industry Opportunities

Of course, everyone is looking for a position in major companies such as NASA, ESA, Blue Origin, Boeing, and SpaceX. However, there are a lot of smaller companies that make a huge impact on the universe! For example, Astronika, a Polish company, is involved in a mission to the Moon, Jupiter’s moon - JUICE, and to Mars - InSight. As I mentioned earlier, they are hiring a diverse range of professionals with a variety of degrees. However, astronomy also provides opportunities to study something new and incorporate it into your current work.

Pursuing Astronomy as a Passion Outside of a Career.

Astronomy can also remain just your hobby, and with a good idea and a little bit of work, you can achieve excellence in it without any higher education. You can try to build your own telescope and organize a stargazing evening in your local area, join an astronomy society, try astrophotography, or just become an astronomy tourist - travel for solar/lunar eclipse (next total solar eclipse will be on 12th August 2026, and it will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal). I think it is a great opportunity to travel to a new country, experience different cultures, meet new people, and of course, see a full solar eclipse.

TO SUM IT UP

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to start small, but start. Apply for programmes, build your portfolio, and stay curious. In no time, you will be in a place you desire and that you have always dreamed of!

Fingers crossed for everyone!

Thank you for reading this article. It means a lot to me.

See you soon,

Ada

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