astronomer
Americannoun
-
astronomers
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of astronomer
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; see origin at astronomy, -er 1
Explanation
A scientist who studies the objects in the sky, including planets, galaxies, black holes, and stars, is called an astronomer. These days, the terms astronomer and astrophysicist are used interchangeably, to talk about any physicist who specializes in celestial bodies and the forces that affect them. Astronomers use telescopes and cameras to observe the stars and other objects in the sky, and they often use complicated math to make predictions and solve puzzles about their movements and locations. The Greek root, astronomia, literally means "star arrangement."
Vocabulary lists containing astronomer
Occupations
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Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory
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astro, aster
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Ahead of the screening of a documentary about his experience, Preston astronomer Dermot Gethings recalled how, at 16 years old, he was hand picked by the United States embassy and Nasa to witness the launch.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
The newly confirmed site was first noticed by an amateur astronomer who was planning a camping trip in Quebec.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
While Amazon has 392 satellites in space, according to data from astronomer Jonathan McDowell, only 315 are in the proper operational orbit.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Among the higher-profile entries are “Pete Townshend: Behind Blue Eyes,” a portrait of the Who guitarist and songwriter, and Nanette Burstein’s “Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff,” about the astronomer and science communicator.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
On a modern school protractor you cannot distinguish ten minutes of a degree, and only one astronomer before Kepler would have thought such a measurement unsatisfactory.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Stargazers and astronomers are preparing to enjoy a festival that celebrates the beauty of the night sky.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
If astronomers can estimate when a black hole's feeding rate will approach the critical threshold, they may be able to predict when a delayed jet is likely to appear.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
By studying the elements present in a star, astronomers may be able to estimate the relative amounts of rock-forming materials available to its planets.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Those changes in visibility produce the distinctive pattern of brightening and dimming that the astronomers had struggled to understand.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
In short, there isn’t a great deal that goes on in the universe that astronomers can’t find when they have a mind to.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
