Which field deals with this(Astronomy,Astrophysics) ?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the distinctions between astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology. Astronomy involves the observation of celestial phenomena, while astrophysics applies physical principles to explain these observations. Cosmology, a subset of astrophysics, focuses on the universe's large-scale properties. The conversation emphasizes that the act of observing light from outer space pertains to astronomy, as it does not involve the physical analysis characteristic of astrophysics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles
  • Familiarity with the concepts of light reflection and refraction
  • Knowledge of the definitions of astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology
  • Awareness of observational techniques in astronomy
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  • Research the principles of light reflection and refraction in astronomy
  • Explore the role of astrophysics in interpreting astronomical data
  • Study the concept of gravitational lenses and their significance in astronomy
  • Investigate the relationship between cosmology and the large-scale structure of the universe
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This discussion is beneficial for students and enthusiasts in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology, as well as educators seeking to clarify these fields' distinctions.

Christian Grey
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When light from outer space, after bouncing off(reflection) several times and refracting several times reaches the surface of the Earth and gets detected. Which field of study of physics deals with this?(Astronomy,Astrophysics or Cosmology)?
 
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It's my understanding (anyone more knowledgeable, please correct me if I'm off) that astronomy is the act of observing space, astrophysics is the act of explaining astronomical observation with physics, and cosmology is a branch of astrophysics focusing on very large scales (mostly, properties of the universe as a whole). So, what you've described would be astronomy, as you make no mention of physical analysis of the data.
 
Bong_Nebula, that more or less seems correct, as I understand it. These three fields are pretty much joined at the hip.
 
I agree with what Bong said, the act of observation is astronomy.
Astrophysics and cosmology are more theoretical and and try to explain what is observed.
Sometimes the theories give the astronomers ideas what to look for.
The discovery of gravitational lenses is an example.
 
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