What's is the difference between General Astronomy, Astronomy, and Cosmology?

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In summary, there are separate forums for astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology on this website. While the distinctions between them can be fuzzy, astronomy tends to focus on observational topics while astrophysics deals with theoretical ones. Cosmology has a larger scope and covers topics that impact the entire universe. However, many astronomical topics have cosmological relevance, so there can be some ambiguity. Posts are typically not shuffled between forums unless they are clearly cosmological or not cosmological.
  • #1
dimensionless
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There is a separate forum for each of these topics. Can anyone clearly explain the difference between them?

:biggrin:
 
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  • #3
Have you been to this page?
https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2 [Broken]

Crudely, one might regard these as specializations of the preceding topic.
For example, follow the first link in the first sentence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Cosmology
and then similarly for the subsequent page.
 
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  • #4
I would say the distinctions are all very fuzzy, particularly between astronomy and astrophysics. One might be more inclined to associate observational topics with astronomy and theoretical ones with astrophysics, but that's not always how the words are used in practice. Cosmology is a little bit more distinct. It refers to topics that impact the universe at large (or, at least, the universe as we presently know it). However, most astronomical topics have cosmological relevance, so even this can be a bit ambiguous at times.

In general, I don't shuffle posts between astro forums unless a topic is very clearly cosmological (like Hubble's law or WMAP) or not cosmological (like extrasolar planets).
 

1. What is the main focus of General Astronomy?

General Astronomy is a broad field that covers the study of celestial bodies, including stars, planets, galaxies, and other objects in the universe. It focuses on understanding the physical properties and behaviors of these objects and their interactions with each other.

2. How does Astronomy differ from General Astronomy?

Astronomy is a more specialized field within General Astronomy that focuses specifically on the study of celestial objects and phenomena outside of our own solar system. This includes topics such as the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies, the structure of the universe, and the search for extraterrestrial life.

3. What makes Cosmology different from Astronomy and General Astronomy?

Cosmology is a subfield of Astronomy that deals with the origin, evolution, and structure of the entire universe. While Astronomy focuses on the study of individual celestial objects, Cosmology looks at the bigger picture and seeks to understand the universe as a whole.

4. Do these fields overlap in any way?

Yes, there is a significant amount of overlap between General Astronomy, Astronomy, and Cosmology. They all use similar techniques and tools to study the universe, and many scientists may work in multiple fields. However, each field has its own specific focus and questions that it seeks to answer.

5. What are some potential career paths for those interested in these fields?

Individuals interested in General Astronomy, Astronomy, and Cosmology can pursue careers in research, academia, and industry. They may work as astronomers, astrophysicists, cosmologists, or science communicators. Some may also work in related fields such as aerospace engineering or data analysis.

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