<p>You can get into observational astronomy from a range of backgrounds. Some easily, some less so. Physics and data science sounds like a very fine choice as that is what can be a large part of an observational astronomer.</p>

<p>You probably will have to learn a bit about image processing. And possibly about the physics of the objects you are going to observe. Such adaptions are very common when one does not want to become an expert in one thing and one particular thing exclusively.</p>

<p>See also the <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35373/how-to-be-an-astrophysicist">answers to this question</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-06T08:55:23.990Z
2020-05-06T08:55:23.990Z
planetmaker
<p>For getting into a PhD program for observational astronomy,  is physics major and data science minor enough?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-06T10:32:48.907Z
Does https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35373/how-to-be-an-astrophysicist answer your question?
usernumber
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T07:32:40.873Z
Does this answer your question? [How to be an astrophysicist?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35373/how-to-be-an-astrophysicist)
usernumber
<observational-astronomy><astrophysics><radio-astronomy>
Options for observational astronomy
user33662
# Options for observational astronomy

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-06)

For getting into a PhD program for observational astronomy, is physics major and data science minor enough?

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, astrophysics, radio-astronomy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35373/how-to-be-an-astrophysicist answer your question?  
> **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [How to be an astrophysicist?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35373/how-to-be-an-astrophysicist)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-05-06. Score: 3

You can get into observational astronomy from a range of backgrounds. Some easily, some less so. Physics and data science sounds like a very fine choice as that is what can be a large part of an observational astronomer.

You probably will have to learn a bit about image processing. And possibly about the physics of the objects you are going to observe. Such adaptions are very common when one does not want to become an expert in one thing and one particular thing exclusively.

See also the [answers to this question](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35373/how-to-be-an-astrophysicist).


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