Not to be confused with an Aerospace Engineer, or Rocket Scientist.

Often people ask Carlos what is Astrophysics. This is the answer Baron Carlos gives back:

The study of the life, death, and everything that happens in between, of a star, and what it does to the rest of the universe..

It is a difficult science, since there is very little to experiment with.
Which is probably a good thing, since the last thing BaronCarlos would want is to have his old professors be able to massage a real stellar object. (They would cause it to supernova.) (Bad thing).

BaronCarlos wrote:

Not to be confused with an Aerospace Engineer, or Rocket Scientist.

Ain't that the truth! Indeed, astrophysicists generally exist in two flavors:

Observers:

They look at and try to interpret data, which might come from radio telescopes, optical telescopes, or telescopes sensitive to infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, or gamma rays. The telescopes might be on the ground or on satellites. Observers generally know nothing about how rockets work, nor even much about the telescopes they use.

Instrument builders:

They build the telescopes (and are usually observers as well, when they get a moment free from building things). Those of us who build telescopes that go on satellites know a little bit about rocketry, but mostly we just curse the real rocket scientists when the rockets don't work. (Rocket science is hard, don't ever forget that.)

As`tro*phys"ics (?), n. [Astro- + physics.] (Astron.)

The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc.

⇒ Its observations are made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope.

© Webster 1913