The cosmos is all that is, or ever was or ever will be,” was the catch phrase of one of the most successful series in the history of American television, Cosmos — presented by Cornell University astronomer Carl Sagan in 1980. Twenty-seven years later, the magic seeds of the sky still hold many captive. If you have the urge to explore and investigate the mysteries of the Universe, you can opt for a unique and enviable vocation. With the stars to guide you, you are welcome to the world of astronomy as a career.

“Astronomy as a career is offering prospects that are better than ever before,” says Amalendu Bandopadhyay, founder director of the Positional Astronomy Centre in Calcutta. And Bandopadhyay stresses that astronomy is not just an esoteric subject for eggheads, but of historical import.

“Astronomy was a matter of life and death for prehistoric man since the determination of the seasons depended on stargazing and that in turn ruled the planting of crops,” says Bandopadhyay. It also helped significantly in travel and navigation since people found their way by looking at the stars. “It is essential to understand that the subject has been of integral help to mankind and those seeking to study it should do so with pride and reverence,” he states.

Over the past two decades, India has seen a rise in the number of institutions carrying out cutting edge research in astronomy and related fields. The development of spacecraft and missions for space exploration have added to the growing fascination for the subject. Among the leading institutions that offer students a chance to study astronomy is the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune.

“Careers in astronomy and astrophysics (A&A) can be broadly divided into theoretical and observational, though, in order to make a significant contribution to the subject, you have to be good at both,” holds Arvind Paranjpye, who is with the scientific public outreach programme at IUCAA. Paranjpye mentions that a theoretical research career in A&A typically involves doing a masters in physics, or a bachelors degree in engineering or technology with thorough basic knowledge in physics and mathematics. “One can join a suitable institution or university for a PhD programme in astronomy and astrophysics, following it up with one or two postdoctoral positions and — finally — obtain a permanent job,” says Paranjpye.

IUCAA is involved in the teaching of astronomy and astrophysics (papers I and II of the third and fourth semesters of MSc) at the University of Pune. Astronomy and astrophysics is an optional course for MSc (physics) students. “Normally, about 10 students are admitted to this course and admission is conducted by the department of physics, University of Pune ,” explains Paranjpye.

It is important for an astronomy student to have a good first degree in physics, mathematics or statistics. “Students can study astronomy with a chemistry or a molecular biology background but it is important to have a strong background in mathematics,” says D. P. Duari, director of research at the Birla Planetarium in Calcutta.

The Birla Planetarium offers a postgraduate diploma in astronomy. “There are vacancies for six students who have to be graduates in physics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, computer science or geology,” says Duari. A PG diploma can lead to jobs in planetariums and is an added qualification for researchers. Salaries for researchers, including in government-sponsored research institutes, adhere to the UGC scale starting from Rs 12,000 plus a contingency grant of Rs 20,000. There are also medical and accommodation (hostel) benefits, says Arvind Paranjpye of IUCAA.

It is imperative for students to have science in Plus Two with physics and mathematics to be eligible for an undergraduate degree with a mathematics or a statistics component that would, in turn, qualify them for a masters in astronomy.

“For doctoral research programmes, students with BTech and MTech in engineering subjects can also apply,” says Sanjib Sen, director of the Positional Astronomy Centre in Calcutta. Among the institutes that offer astronomy at the masters level are Osmania University of Hyderabad and Andhra University of Visakhapatnam. “Punjabi University of Patiala, Madras University and Lucknow University also offer masters,” says Sen.

India is an emerging space power and astronomers are in demand in areas such as satellite building and data acquisition. “They are needed to answer the ever growing questions of fundamental science,” says Amalendu Bandopadhyay.

“ISRO is looking for young, dynamic and dedicated scientists,” says S. Krishnamurthy, director of public relations at ISRO in Bangalore. “We have opportunities for MSc and PhD students at our physical research laboratory in Ahmedabad and at the headquarters in Bangalore. Starting salaries for scientists range from Rs 8,000 to Rs 13,500,” he reveals.

The government is also mulling the introduction of astronomy as a field of study at the undergraduate level, as well as laying emphasis on it at the school level.

If all this comes to pass, a number of skilled and qualified astronomers would be required to bring the endeavour to fruition. India is also witnessing a growth in planetariums and these educational centres would need qualified astronomers for educating the masses.

Duari says the salary for a beginner at a planetarium is about Rs 10,000 while the remuneration of a director can be around Rs 35,000.

“More than the money, it is the magnetism of understanding how the universe works and our place in it that is the chief source of satisfaction in this field,” sums up Bandopadhyay.