Math Is there a Connection between Applied Mathematics and Astronomy?

[discrete*]

There's always a lot of talk about mathematical physics and mathematical biology within the topic of applied mathematics, but I've never heard of astronomy being thrown into the mix... Why is this?

Are there applied mathematicians working in astronomical fields? What about celestial mechanics, is this still an active area of research? I'm just interested interested in learning about how mathematical methods may be applied to astronomy, and was hoping someone may have some information to share...

 

[NobodySpecial]

Are there applied mathematicians working in astronomical fields?

Relativity, string theory, cosmology - theoretical physics and applied maths are essentially the same thing

There is also a lot of more applied mathemetics in numerical modelling, N-body, star formation, etc

What about celestial mechanics, is this still an active area of research?

Only in behavioral psychology - it's one of the fews ways you are allowed to torture undergrads and get it past the ethics committee.

 

[discrete*]

Relativity, string theory, cosmology - theoretical physics and applied maths are essentially the same thing

They must be different in, at the very least, approach... Right? I mean to be a mathematician working in cosmology must be vastly different than to be a physicist working in cosmology, or at least I would think it is... I tend to draw this conclusion because they are "trained" differently. I may be completely off, though -- that's why I'm asking these questions.

Only in behavioral psychology - it's one of the fews ways you are allowed to torture undergrads and get it past the ethics committee.

Lol.. Very witty way to answer my question.

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it.

 

[PoyDuo]

While researching graduate schools, I did stumble across one mathematics professor who listed his interest as the mechanics of galaxy formation (or something along those lines). If only I could remember where I saw it...

 

[NobodySpecial]

I mean to be a mathematician working in cosmology must be vastly different than to be a physicist working in cosmology

There is a big difference between theoretical and observational cosmology.

But whether theoretical cosmology is called theoretical physics or applied maths is just an administrative question = depends what the department got called at your university.
Similarly whether someone calls themselves a theoretical physicist or an applied mathematical is just a choice.

What about celestial mechanics, is this still an active area of research?

To clarify, things like coordinate systems are pretty much done. Astrometry = measuring star positions is an active area but it's mostly to do with devloping more precise equipement. There isn't really any research into spherical trig.

If you include things like N-body, SPH, galaxy formation dynamics, then yes these are all active research areas. Mainly in numerical modeling, ways of making the calculations faster, or using them on newer computers

 

[discrete*]

There is a big difference between theoretical and observational cosmology.

But whether theoretical cosmology is called theoretical physics or applied maths is just an administrative question = depends what the department got called at your university.
Similarly whether someone calls themselves a theoretical physicist or an applied mathematical is just a choice.

My university has programs in mathematical physics (given by the physics department) and applied mathematics (given by the math department). That being said; I do, however, get the sense that they work in close conjunction with one another and there is opportunities for applied mathematics students to put their skills to use in the sciences. So, in a sense I suppose you're correct, but I would still say that theoretical physics and applied mathematics are not the same.

If you include things like N-body, SPH, galaxy formation dynamics, then yes these are all active research areas. Mainly in numerical modeling, ways of making the calculations faster, or using them on newer computers

These seem like very interesting areas of research, and I can definitely see why applied mathematicians would work in such an area. Thank you, NobodySpecial.

And as an addendum to my original post; when we hear of mathematicians working in government or industry, its usually in cryptography/cryptanalysis, software engineering, etc.. Do agencies like NASA or national laboratories hire mathematicians, as well?

 

[NobodySpecial]

Do agencies like NASA or national laboratories hire mathematicians, as well?

Almost everybody hires mathemticians.
If you want smart it's a good place to start - not just because mathematicians are smart (although they do lack the raw sex-appeal of physicists) but maths is hard - so someone who chose to do maths rather than computer science is probably a better bet to hire as a programmer.

Crypto is just one of the areas of pure maths (eg number theory) that is directly accesible and easy to explain to the public.