Astronomy explains the origin of the universe through the Big Bang.
Astronomy is the science dedicated to the study of the characteristics and movements of the stars . It should be remembered that a star is a celestial body (that is, an individual astronomical object with a defined shape that is in the sky).
Planets , stars , dwarf planets , satellites and asteroids are stars and, therefore, are part of the object of study of astronomy. Human beings have always been interested in these stars and their phenomena: in ancient times, Thales of Miletus , Aristotle , Galileo Galilei and Nicolás Copernicus , among others, developed research that can be included in the framework of astronomy.
It is important not to confuse astronomy with astrology . While astronomy is a science that is developed through the scientific method and empirical demonstrations, astrology is part of the group of pseudosciences: its postulates cannot be demonstrated according to scientific criteria.
Etymology of the term astronomy
To move forward with the definition of the term astronomy , it is important to analyze its etymological origin. In this case we can indicate that it is the result of the sum of three words that come from Greek:
- The noun astron , which can be translated as "star" .
- The name nomos , which is equivalent to "norm" or "rule."
- The suffix -ia , used to indicate "quality" .
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that measures and analyzes the position and movement of astronomical objects.
Study of electromagnetic radiation
The study of electromagnetic radiation is one of the main sources of knowledge in astronomy, which calls for the use of telescopes to visualize astronomical objects in the universe . This particularity means that anyone, with a telescope, can make important discoveries for astronomy.
The branch of astronomy that examines the electromagnetic radiation of celestial objects is known as radio astronomy . The radio telescope is the device used to detect radio waves.
Spectroscopy , for its part, uses the Doppler effect to investigate the properties of galaxies that are at great distances. For this, it studies the electromagnetic spectrum.
It should be noted that, in the historical evolution of astronomy, the great change occurred thanks to Copernicus , who postulated that the Earth revolved around the Sun. Its discovery modified the view that the Sun orbited our planet and gave rise to the development of modern astronomy.
Thus, it is clear that the Sun is the center of the Solar System (which is part of a galaxy called the Milky Way ) and that our planet revolves around this star. Today each observatory and space station contributes to continue generating knowledge of great value for astronomers.
Planetariums help spread knowledge of astronomy.
Branches of astronomy
Stellar astronomy , galactic astronomy , optical astronomy , and infrared astronomy are some of the branches and specialties of astronomy.
We cannot ignore the fact that a new type of astronomy is considered to have been born in 2015 . Specifically, it is established that on September 14 of that year the so-called gravitational wave astronomy was launched. And it is that various scientists came across, for the first time, the discovery of a small deformation of space-time , caused by waves that were formed from the merger of two black holes, which were about 1,200 years old. / 1.3 billion years.
Organizations that promote this science
There are various organizations that exist in favor of astronomy. This would be the case, for example, of the Spanish Astronomy Society ( SEA ), which was launched in 1992 and is made up of more than 700 professionals.
With its creation and development, what is sought, among other things, is to promote the development of this science as well as to create a space for debate and research around it.
Astronomy and extraterrestrial life
The possible existence of extraterrestrial life is part of astronomy studies. Astrobiology is called the specialization that investigates, among other issues, the existence of life outside our planet.
Drawing on knowledge from astrophysics and other areas, and in combination with cosmology and more branches of astronomy, astrobiology looks for evidence of life in the Solar System and even on exoplanets in deep space.
There are various projects that are included under the concept of Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence or Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) . These initiatives inspect electromagnetic signals recorded by radio telescopes and even send messages to outer space waiting for a response.
Although so far it has not been possible to demonstrate that there is intelligent life outside the Earth , phenomena have been detected that could not yet be explained. Among them, the so-called Wow! signal stands out. , captured in 1977 by a radio telescope. This signal was emitted for 72 seconds from the eastern sector of the Sagittarius constellation and its origin could never be reliably determined.
Expert word
David García is a Spanish scientific communicator and University Expert in Astronomy who specializes in Observational Astronomy and Applied Physics. He currently directs the Urania Project at the University of Malaga , an institution where he works as a technician in the Applied Physics department.
Taking into account his extensive experience in observations, workshops and practical activities aimed at young people, we conducted a brief interview with him to find out his view on the dissemination of astronomy and the current state of this science.
– What are the keys to bringing astronomy closer to people?
In my opinion there is no magic recipe in this sense, it depends on each person and situation. Astronomy is a branch of science that the general public always likes, with the exception that being a science with such complicated theories and concepts it can overwhelm the citizen who listens to us. We must facilitate its understanding so that people can understand the concepts with simple and close examples.
David Garcia
– How can the reach of disclosure be increased?
To achieve this, it is necessary to combine the efforts of researchers, disseminators, universities and educational bodies, as well as the media so that this knowledge reaches the general public. Without this collaboration, dissemination does not reach the majority public.
David Garcia
– What would you recommend to someone who wants to start as an amateur astronomer?
The last thing to do is buy a telescope, it is a very common mistake among amateurs. The first thing is to be well documented and know the sky with the naked eye, know the constellations, orient yourself in the night sky and over time we can get some binoculars or binoculars to begin to get to know celestial objects that are more difficult to see with the naked eye. They are clusters, nebulae and galaxies. With the time and budget we have, we can get a telescope and thoroughly enjoy this hobby. There are many astronomical associations around the world that we can go to for advice and learn from them.
David Garcia
– How do you think astronomical research can change with the advancement of artificial intelligence?
The use of AIs is a revolution today, it is allowing us to accelerate many research that would take years or decades to carry out. This type of tools will allow you to obtain results in less time thanks to their work. It is very important that these AIs are properly trained so that they do not overlook relevant results. For this, it is necessary for humans to train these AIs properly in their function.
David Garcia
– Do you think the astronomer's job will be very different from today?
To a large extent it has already changed, the use of digital tools has been implemented in astronomy for decades. Now the use of AIs will further accelerate all research and results, which would in itself take a group of researchers years of studies and measurements.
David Garcia