astronomer

American  

[uh-stron-uh-mer] / əˈstrɒn ə mər /

noun

1. an expert in astronomy; a scientific observer of the celestial bodies.

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astronomer British  

/ əˈstrɒnəmə /

noun

1. a scientist who studies astronomy

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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."

Example Sentences

A few creators, including the popular conservative writer and influencer Jessica Reed Kraus, suggested a possible connection between Loureiro’s death and the February 2026 killing of Caltech astronomer Carl Grillmair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Roman, which took more than $4 billion and over a decade to build, is named after astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, nicknamed the "Mother of Hubble" for her role in developing the landmark space telescope.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Among them was astronomer and astrophysicist Ernst Öpik.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

If you’re an astronomer, it’s people confusing what you do with astrology.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Rømer was born at Århus on 25 September 1644, and after studying at the University of Copenhagen he stayed on there as assistant to the physicist and astronomer Erasmus Bartholin.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• astrophysicist
• cosmologist