Transition from theoretical physics to astronomy

[AW3Rgo0l]

How easy to switch from research in theoretical physics to astronomy and is it possible to become a qualified specialist in this field after that?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Do you know any astronomy? If not, I think the answer will be "pretty doggone hard".

 

[AW3Rgo0l]

Do you know any astronomy? If not, I think the answer will be "pretty doggone hard".

I'm schooler and would like to get a more general answer. Maybe some recommendations to keep me able to make this transition in the future

 

[phyzguy]

Astronomy has a lot of specialized nomenclature and specialized knowledge. As @Vanadium 50 implied, if all of this is new to you, it will be a lot of work to catch up with people who have been living astronomy since their teens. But, like anything else, if you put your mind to it and study, you can catch up.

 

[CrysPhys]

How easy to switch from research in theoretical physics to astronomy and is it possible to become a qualified specialist in this field after that?

I'm schooler and would like to get a more general answer. Maybe some recommendations to keep me able to make this transition in the future

"Research in theoretical physics" is very broad, and "schooler" is vague. If you want advice of value, you need to tell us more of your educational background.

 

[AW3Rgo0l]

"Research in theoretical physics" is very broad, and "schooler" is vague. If you want advice of value, you need to tell us more of your educational background.

In a year i'm going to university to study theoretical physics. But i'm also interested in astronomy and would like to know if it possible to combine this. Is this a popular practice or a few people do it? I got the impression that physics and astronomy are related fields and transition isn't so laborious.

 

[renormalize]

I got the impression that physics and astronomy are related fields and transition isn't so laborious.

Indeed, there are many US universities that have a combined Department of Physics and Astronomy and offer a bachelor degree program in Astrophysics.

 

[jtbell]

In the US, it's common for university students working towards a bachelor's degree in one field to take elective classes in other fields. I understand that in some other countries, universities are not as flexible in this respect.

Even in graduate achool, in the US it's often possible for PhD students to take courses outside their degree department. In fact, I was required to take at least two "cognate" classes outside the physics department. I used math classes to satisfy this requirement, but I can easily imagine someone going over to the astronomy department next door for this.

 

[Vanadium 50]

So, let me see if I understand the question. You are asking if an unspecified program at an unspecified level (BS, MS, PhD) unspecified university in an unspecified country in the overly broad topic of "theoretical physics" will adequately prepare you for an unspecified research position in an overly broad topic of "astronomy",. again in an unspecified (and possibly different) country. Is that right?

If so, the answer is "maybe".

 

[CrysPhys]

In a year i'm going to university to study theoretical physics. But i'm also interested in astronomy and would like to know if it possible to combine this. Is this a popular practice or a few people do it? I got the impression that physics and astronomy are related fields and transition isn't so laborious.

What programs are offered at the university you will be attending (if you've already been accepted), or at the universities you are considering?

 

[gwnorth]

In a year i'm going to university to study theoretical physics.

How is this program specifically theoretical and how does it differ from a traditional general Physics program? One can study any branch of Physics from either a theoretical or experimental approach and typically undergraduate programs in Physics expose students to both. With regards to making the transition to Astronomy, while some universities do offer undergraduate Astronomy or Astrophysics programs specifically, they aren't as wide spread and they mostly consist of the same core courses as general Physics programs with the addition of a few astronomy courses. Specialization in Astronomy/Astrophysics/Cosmology more frequently occurs at the graduate level.

 

[Choppy]

I might just throw out the general advice that it's better not to specialize too much right off the bat.

If you're starting an undergraduate degree, just go with physics to begin with if that's an option. As you advance, develop more skills and go through some academic bottlenecks, you can get more specialized.