Re: What is the best and worst aspect of being an astronomer?

Hi Magon,

I'm not really sure how to answer your question. Certainly it must be different for different astronomers. For me, the best thing about astronomy is that I get to solve interesting puzzles every day. I became an astronomer because I wanted to understand what the Universe is made out of and how it works. I think those are questions which will never be fully answered, but we are learning more every day, and I like the idea that I am contributing to that knowledge in some small way. I have a lot of freedom to choose interesting projects, and I'm almost never bored at work.

I suppose the worst part about being an astronomer is dealing with the government bureaucracy. The government pays for almost all the astronomy done in the U.S., and the way the rules are set up can be quite frustrating, because there isn't much room for trust and common sense in the way the government does business. They spend a hundred dollars in extra effort to prevent anyone from wasting ten. Since the people most interested in saving that money (to do science with) are the scientists themselves, it gets frustrating sometimes.

I don't know if I've answered what you want to know, but I hope I came close. If not, you can reach me by email at StevenLevin@we.mediaone.net or contact me through the Mad Scientist Network.