Allan Chapman
Early Life
Allan was born in Swinton, Lancashire in the north of England. As a child, he was always interested in tinkering and making things. He made his own telescope when he was 11 and used it to look at the Moon. He was from a working-class family and career options were limited. When he left school without qualifications, he was expected to start work in a local factory. Instead, Allan decided to get a job in a local library.
Year born: 1946
Research Areas: History of Science, History of Astronomy, Broadcasting
Stargazing
Of course unlike a hundred years ago, not all astronomers look through telescopes. Now they can programme complex computers to model what they see. The programmes are told to follow the laws of physics, and then the simulations are forwards and backwards in time to get a fuller understanding of what is happening.
In astrophysics, you need to combine the computer simulations, and the observations from telescopes, to be sure about a theory.
Perhaps the most obvious career relating to space and astronomy is ‘star-gazing’. Looking into the Universe and trying to figure out what is going on.
Numbers
Astrophysicists apply their knowledge of maths to solve problems about the Universe. They collect information using telescopes, and use maths and statistics to interpret the information. Astrophysicists also use mathematical models and formulas to understand the physics of the Universe. We would not have been able to discover black holes or know that the Universe is expanding without maths.
Astronomers use numbers all the time (especially really big ones!). Astronomy grew out of solving problems about time and distance.
History
Perhaps you are more interested in history but like astronomy as a hobby? Well, there are careers looking at the history of astronomy, both ancient and modern.
If you love history and astronomy, then these jobs might interest you: Historian (Astronomy, Science or Cultural), Author, Museum Curator, Librarian, Archaeoastronomer, Conservationist, Anthropologist. Many people working in this field, work in both a physics and an arts department.
You may think that astronomy, a science, and history are poles apart. In fact, many astronomers love history, and many historians are interested in space.