Astrophysics Definition and 845 Threads

Hey there, I am a student and I am thinking of buying the two books for astrophysics written by Frank Shu. do you think they will help me to get a better understanding of astronomy and expand my knowledge? My level is not high but i know several things about astronomy and astrophysics

I have always been interested in majoring in a STEM field. I never saw myself as a scientist, per say, (I abhor labs) but I always thought I would major in physics, math, or computer science. However, recently I have been very offset by the relatively low grades given out in my STEM classes than...

Hi everyone, Is there a simple formula/equation for calculating the mass of a star simply by measuring it's redshift. I know there is a way to do it, but have been unable to find any clues on the web.. Thanks for your help! :)

Hi, I'm currently a freshman in high school and still considering what to do in the future, but right now my two top choices are Astrophysics and Engineering. I love physics at school so, SO much and doing something in that area would be great, but right now I'm torn between these two areas of...

Hey all! I'm new to this forum. Anyway i have a burning question which i cannot seem to find among these forum posts (even after toiling through). Is it possible to pursue astrophysics or theoretical physics for that matter in your post grad studies, even though I got an Mechanical...

I'm considering getting a major in astrophysics and a minor in computer science. First of all, would an astrophysics major preclude me from studying, say, particle particle physics, in graduate school? I want to take a couple astro classes and my parents think astrophysics sounds "smarter" than...

Hi all. I'm a prospective physics major, hoping to either go into particle physics or condensed matter research or enter tech if research doesn't turn out to be for me. I was wondering which elective I should choose for next semester--astro 101 or Chemistry 1 or CS 1? Will chemistry help me with...

I'm considering getting a major in astrophysics and a minor in computer science. First of all, would an astrophysics major preclude me from studying, say, particle particle physics, in graduate school? I want to take a couple astro classes and my parents think astrophysics sounds "smarter" than...

Hello all. I am a high school student, and I plan on going to University (not sure which yet) to study Astrophysics, and I hope to eventually land a research job at a prestigious University. Of course, this is a very ambitious goal, and that's where my question comes in: Will I be able to do...

Hello, I'm Lachlan Pearce and love physics (mostly special relativity, astrophysics, and a little of quantum physics). If anyone wants to discuss any of this I'd be happy to.. :)

Hello there. I am a student doing a MSci at one of the top British universities and top 5 world universities according to QS. I am doing a Natural Sciences Degree and must choose a specialisation in Physics starting next term. Ever since I was a child, my dream has been to study Astrophysics...

I've gotten a bit confused about the creation of the neutron star/pulsar, so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction :) As fusion stops, when reaching the iron phase, the outer layers (hydrogen, helium, carbon... etc.) gets pulled in-wards do to gravity. This creates a bounce...

Hello, I want to become an Astrophysicist, but I do not know the "structure" of events that it takes to become one. Is Astrophysics a Bachelor's program, or is it a Graduate program? For example, can you major in Astrophysics, or do you need to major in a smaller element like physics or...

Hello guys. I am fortunate that I have found this website and I have created an account just to ask one question. I asked this on yahoo answers as well but no luck. So here goes. I'm 14 years old and I love astrophysics. I have learn most of the basic stuff and I've also read A brief history...

So I don't feel as freaked out as I did before reading the Tips sticky about making sure every bit of science is plausible. I would like to try and keep it believable for the immersion though. http://gizmodo.com/could-the-sun-be-extinguished-by-a-bucket-of-water-just-1669914928 It all started...

Hi I am a want to be writer that has high hopes publishing before I am 70, maybe. lol I have a short story idea that is slowly turning into a small novel and even if it never publishes I would like to keep junk science out of it. I am not sure where to post the thread for it or if this is the...

I have a little problem about Stellar Flux. I've searched google and bing for info but to no avail. Please help me understand Stellar Flux. Thanks, Epicall Rounder

I am an undergraduate Physics major, and I cannot decide if I want to go to grad school fro Astrophysics or Electrical Engineering; I love them both. I want to combine the two, and so my ideal job would be working on the electronics and technology used in space. I would love to work on projects...

Hi, I am a high school senior planning on attending somewhere similar to UCLA. I have always had a passion for astronomy but never considered it as an actual career option, as I was dead set on becoming a medical doctor. I recently thought of dropping that idea, however, because even though I...

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little advice. I'm coming to the end of a PhD in photonics in about 6 months, specifically I have been looking at plasmonic nanostructures. It's gone ok, I'm at a great university and have two 1st author papers in ok journals with hopefully a third before I...

Hello everyone, I have read a lot of the post here about being engineers and going on into astronomy or astrophysics. Thus, decided to join and ask for advice. I have a similar experience but I have a unique problem. I have an BSc in electrical engineering from a US university with focus on...

Hi. I completed my undergrad major in physics and want to go to grad school for astrophysics. I want to have a year revision of the mathematics needed for astrophysics. What type of math is needed to excel to be a successful astrophysicist. I have some lacking in integration . What others are...

Homework Statement Explain why stage 1 and 2 of the triple alpha process will not being until the core Temp of the star is around 10^8K. Homework Equations 4He+4He = 8Be (step 1) 8Be+4He = 12C (Step 2) The Attempt at a Solution I "think" I need to work out the nuclear energies... However I...

I don't really have to look into this just yet but it bothers me. I quite like cosmology and stuff like such. Universal topology and relativity and sum of histories and stuff. Fun! I really would like to study any theoretical physics though, it just strikes my fancy particularly. I figure I'd...

Hi All, If you are in the Milwaukee area, here is a great way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. COFFEESHOP ASTROPHYSICS Sat Dec 6 2014 2pm @ 224 W. Bruce St, Milwaukee WI 53204 Welcome to CoffeeShop Astrophysics! These are a series of free informal public lectures aimed at anyone...

My objective is to learn programs and techniques that will prove beneficial to my physics degree. I am going on to grad school to get a physics PhD but I will be staying 1 more year as an undergrad. A CS minor is probably too broad for me because I only want to learn specific programs that will...

Hi all, I was doing HEP-EXP in a US institution, got MSc and started Phd. However in the middle of it I decided that job prospects weren't good as far as tenure track positions are concerned and I found a job as a quantitative analyst in a hedge fund. I work there for the past 18 months. But...

On the subject of our 'finely turned universe', I have read that the proton-electron mass ratio can not deviate more than 1:1037. In other readings, the allowable deviation was stated as 1% ("If the neutron were very slightly less massive, then it could not decay without energy input. If its...

I understand that the electron degeneracy principle states that no two electrons can occupy the same space at once. However, I do not think I clearly understand the physics behind that. I talked to my physics teacher about this and he said it had to do with the electron spin; I thought it was...

i'm very much interested in astrophysics. but I'm really concerned about the career options that a astrophysicist may choose. is it a very tough subject? I'm really confused what i should do. is this a really good decision to pursue my career in astrophysics? what are the job fecilities for an...

I am an undergraduate Physics major in my third year, and I'd like to concentrate in Astronomy or Astrophysics when I obtain my Masters and PhD. What kinds of physics classes should I take in preparation for this? I've already taken all explicitly-astronomy courses at my school. I was thinking...

I have a question in my astrophysics textbook that I need some help with. Given \frac{dT}{dr}\propto\frac{\kappa\rho{L}}{r^2T^3} and \frac{dL}{dr}\propto{r^2}{\rho}\epsilon show that L\propto {M^{5.4}} and R\propto {M^{0.2}} if \kappa\propto\rho{T^{-3.5}} and \epsilon\propto\rho{T^{5}}. Using...

I am from India. I have done B.Sc in electronics, M.Sc in electronics, M.Tech in nanoelectronics and currently have four years of research experiences in nanoelectronics. But now I want to shift from this career and get a Ph.D in astrophysics from the universities in USA. Can anyone tell me is...

First of all, I'd like to clarify my title by pointing out it is NOT a dodgy pick-up line. I am a female myself and have noticed that pretty much every woman who enrolled at my university in physics is going on, or plans to go into the field of astrophysics, myself included. I am wondering if...

I completed my Masters degree in physics from an Indian University. I would like to know more about research opportunities (PhD) in Qatar in the field of astrophysics. Please guide me

Hello! I just created an account and this is my first post for this site. I am interested in studying a field that deals with particles in space, and after I did some research I decided Astrophysics is a suitable field for this interest. After I did some research on Astrophysics, I noticed that...

Hello guys, I really hope I came to the right section, since technically my topic involves not only astronomy, but also engineering, maths and so on. But anyway, let's get to the point. So we have to come up with some kind of a research(I'm second year applied physics student) which will be...

I am currently attending Community College, but in the future I would like to transfer to a University and get a degree in Astrophysics. The University of Alabama - Huntsville (UAH) is the closest University where I live, and I was wondering if the PhD Physics program good, and also UAH offers a...

I'm currently looking into a career in either Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics, or Theoretical Astrophysics. What is the difference between the subject matter in each of these three fields and how would I go about attaining status of Theoretical Astrophysicist? I have found numerous majors...

Hello, I'm currently in my senior year finishing a Finance degree but have come to the realization that I should follow the career path I would actually enjoy rather than simply getting a job and starting a 9-5 life. However I have a few questions on my mind and if anybody could help me it would...

Hello all, so I'm just finishing up my basics in undergrad school and am starting to take math and introductory physics classes, and just wanted to clear something up to make sure that I'm not wasting my time. My goal is a PhD in astrophysics. Now I know that in order to get into a good grad...

Hi guys, I have a bachelor's degree in IT (software development, BAC+3), I am 27 years old and I live in Europe. I've always love space and astrophysics but I am interested in physics in general. I decided to go back to school to get a degree in physics but I am not quite sure about which...

Let me firstly and quickly apologize if this topic has been covered before. I know you all answer a lot of these questions, so please link me to some past discussions as you see fit. I am going into my last year as an astrophysics major, and I'm a bit dismayed at my job outlook with just a...

How difficult is it to get a job in after receiving the degrees, is it essential for me to get the highest educational degree in these specified degrees or is it pretty much all about luck later on? For example, what chances are there that I will work with astrophysics/aerospace engineering if I...

hi, please explain me how to define a luminosity function? what is meant by luminosity interval? and the last one , what is meant by Present Day Mass Function (PDMF)? reagrds

Hello all, This fall, I will be entering my freshman year at the University of Michigan, where I intend to study aerospace engineering. It has always been my dream to work in the space industry, and as such I've been considering the possibility of expanding into astrophysics to satisfy my...

Hi there, I need to choose my major in a week and it's between physics or astrophysics. Most of the courses are the same except a few: The different courses: Physics: statistical mechanics, solid state physics, and nuclear and particle physics Astrophysics: Intro to astro...

I will be a Junior this Fall at a large and well-known public university. I am working towards a double major of physics and astronomy. I was told by a professor (at a different university) whom I had befriended that due to my interests in astronomy I should expect a certain attitude from other...

Astrophysics has always been my passion. I remember reading many books on it when I was a child, and my fascination grew even more when I took my first intro astrophysics class this year in college. The more I read up on job prospects on astrophysics, the more depressed I get. I have always...

Homework Statement Sgr A* is the radio source at the centre of the galaxy. When it flares at X-ray wavelengths the flux increases by x 40 in 40 minutes. Estimate the size of the emitting region. The Attempt at a Solution The solution is to consider the distance traveled by the light in 40...