astrophysics & astrophysics



Does pondering at the Southern night skies inspire you to study Astrophysics or Astronomy ? You can, at bachelor, master, PhD ( doctorate) degree courses at universities in Australia. Check out universities listed below.  For other non-Astronomy subject areas, click here .

  • What is the best university or degree to study Astrophysics & Astronomy for a career as an Astrophysicist or Astronomer ?
  • Besides ATAR, what are the HSC year 12 prerequisite subjects ?

  • Some of the best locations for Astronomical research are based in Australia due to its unique position in the Southern Hemisphere and clear unobstructed skies due to low atmospheric pollution.

Astronomy started as an ancient scientific observation of celestial objects such as stars, planets, asteroids,comets and galaxies, black holes, worm holes, white dwarfs, dark matter and phenomena originating outside Earth, such as cosmic/ gamma  background radiation.
Astronomy dates back 2,000 years,  starting with primitive  observation of the night skies with the naked eye,  to using  telescopes developed later in the 14- 15th century. Astronomy / Astrophysics deals with evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology  and motion of heavenly objects, as well as the formation and development of the cosmos.
 


Optical instrumentation and more recent radio astronomy (Satellite dish antenna ) techniques are used together with computers to analyse and process data gathered.Visit this link to learn more about what you can do with your Australian university Astrophysics degree upon graduation, working as an Astrophysicist or Astronomer.

University admission requirements for Astronomy:

  • Physics, Maths, English proficiency

New South Wales : NSW

Victoria : VIC

Queensland : QLD

Western Australia : WA

Tasmania : TAS

Australian Capital Territory : ACT

More information on Astronomy and Astrophysics

As astrophysics is a very broad subject, astrophysicists commonly apply many disciplines of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, and atomic and molecular physics. In practice, modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics. The name of a university’s department (“astrophysics” or “astronomy”) often has to do more with the department’s history than with the contents of the programs. Astrophysics can be studied at the bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. levels in aerospace engineering, physics, or astronomy departments at many universities.

Astrophysics  is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties (luminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition) of celestial objects such as galaxies, stars, planets, exoplanets, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions. The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at scales much larger than the size of particular gravitationally-bound objects in the universe. 

For other non-Astronomy subject areas, click here