Skills
Astronomer Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in astronomers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do astronomers need?
Astronomers need technical skills such as astrophysics, data analysis, and python programming, plus people skills like curiosity and persistence. They also use tools such as Python and Telescopes.
Technical (hard) skills
- Astrophysics
- Data analysis
- Python programming
- Statistics
- Observing
- Scientific writing
People (soft) skills
- Curiosity
- Persistence
- Collaboration
- Communication
Tools, equipment and technology
- Python
- Telescopes
- Astropy
- High-performance computing
- Spectrographs
- LaTeX
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how astronomers put their skills to work:
- How to write a telescope time proposal
- How to reduce raw telescope images
- How to explain astronomy to the public
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Astrophysics” and “Data analysis.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “curiosity,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Ph.D. near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our astronomer glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Astronomer training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.