Where can i get a career in astronomy?

[Emily]

I am 14 and in year 9 and was wondering if i can stay in Australia to be an astronomer or do i have to move to the USA? I am fascinated by astronomy and our universe. I would really like to choose a career that i enjoy and i think to work in astronomy would be awesome. Could somebody please find more information on becoming an astronomer. I would like to know the following if possible

where i can get a career in astronomy?
what subjects i need?
what does this career involve exactly?
How much do they earn?
Some websites with information please?

If anyone could find information for me please and answer my questions i would be so happy. D

i really want to know what to do with my future instead of deciding at the last minute... thankyou

 

[eri]

Yes, you can become an astronomer in Australia. Keep in mind there's really not much you can do in the astronomy field if you don't have a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics, so you'll be in college for a long time (and you definitely need the PhD to do research). Start with a physics major, and take classes in math, astronomy, and computer science. Get started with research with a professor while in college to make sure this is really what you want to do with your life. Then you'd go to grad school for astronomy, physics, or astrophysics.

Astronomers work for colleges and universities, national labs and observatories, and organizations like NASA and ESA. They do research using telescopes and satellites (studying stars, planets, galaxies, the universe and everything in it), model things on the computer and use the computer to reduce the data they collected, do theoretical calculations trying to figure out what they're seeing in space, and write it up. They also advise students, teach classes, and many other things involving collaborations. In the US, they make between 60k - 120k a year.