‘We can study the world in all its astonishing diversity’ – Astronomy students on what they study

Daniil Smirnov

Initially, it was physics that I thought I would be applying to at the University. I was more of a physics enthusiast than social sciences, mathematics or IT. Yet the chances to engage in applied research looked rather uncertain. I decided to have a look for which departments might accept physics as an admissions test and it was astronomy. It seemed like the right choice for me. Astronomy is an incredibly interesting part of physics that focuses on fundamental research. Obviously, it was hugely attractive. Besides, astronomy graduates also stand every chance to follow diverse careers in physics and IT as the graduates are also well equipped with knowledge and skills in these subjects.

Currently, my research project focuses on the polar-ring galaxies (PRG). A PRG consists of a flattened galaxy with an outer ring of gas, dust and stars rotating in a plane approximately perpendicular to the central disk. Among such galaxies are NGC 660, NGC 4650A, and NGC 2685. As any oddity and curiosity, the PRGs are enormously attractive in science. Our concerns extend over the whole spectrum of issues. Not the least is to guide the scientists through the birth of such galaxies. There are a number of the mechanisms of how PRGs were formed. Among them is the capture by a satellite, the capture of gas from the intergalactic medium, or the collision between galaxies. Presumably, they all may be equally true. Yet the question remains which of the mechanisms underlies the formation of each galaxy and how each of the galaxies was formed. A better understanding of the PRGs can shed light on the evolution, structure of the galaxies and the spread of the dark matter around them. What the applied outcomes of such research are is difficult to say. The focus of a fundamental science is to gain a better insight into how the Universe works, rather than to gain some practical outcomes.

You may hear quite often why astronomy is necessary today. The newspaper headlines may mislead you in a way to create an impression that astronomy is all about snapping black holes in other galaxies, catching the gravitational waves, and posting stunning Hubble images. In fact, quite the contrary, astronomy is part of our every-day life. We need it every time when we get a taxi, choose a destination, get directions, or switch on a running distance tracker. GPS is a result of the painstaking and extensive research inquiries in astronomy. The satellites are not the only evidence. GPS wouldn’t work if we didn’t know the theory of relativity, which was also proved in astronomy. All astronomical coordinate systems are based on the position of the ultra-powerful extragalactic sources, namely quasars that are accretive supermassive black holes. Navigation in the past and today is a result of the extensive research in astronomy, theoretically and practically. The astronomical observations ensure an in-depth study of how the physical theories work beyond the Earth. Astronomy is useful. Needless to say, for space exploration as well.

Unlike astronomy, medicine and biology are of more significance and value today. It is quite fair. To be able to save a person’s life is more important than to gain an insight into how the solar system was formed. Yet what lures me in astronomy is that we can study the world in all its astonishing diversity. I do recommend you to have an occasional thought on what incredible processes underpin our life.

Lev Monakhov

As we all know, the breakthroughs in physics facilitate the advent of the technologies that may lead to more comfort. These breakthroughs are often the results of the research inquiries in astronomy. Unfortunately, it may not be quite obvious. In my opinion, our better understanding of how the Universe works beautifully helps us become better every day in every way. As Joseph Brodsky said, ‘aesthetics is the mother of ethics.’ Natural beauty is a starting point of everything. More often than not, if there is no idea what astronomy is for, there is an air of neglect for literature as well. What makes us human is both science and art. In this way, astronomy facilitates our personal growth and can help solve demanding problems. To be honest, as Ray Bradbury brilliantly put it in his We Are the Carpenters of an Invisible Cathedral, the breakthroughs in astronomy first appear in science fiction books. In particular, Howard Phillips Lovecraft foresaw the red shift in one of his poems.

Stepan Turygin

As early as my childhood, I set my mind on becoming an expert in astronomy. I was mesmerised by Stephen Hawking’s TV series on space exploration. Then I took courses on astronomy for children, took part in the Olympiads, and finally was enrolled on the course of astronomy at the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty at the University. It was my dream. I am not too keen on other fields of study, say, IT. Such popular fields are very competitive. Many of my friends who also took part in the Olympiads also study astronomy at the University. So, the place has never been strange to me as I have many friends. Both teaching staff and students are very kind and pleasant. It is definitely a big advantage.

I focus on the assessment of how the masses of the objects ranging from the comets and asteroids to the microscopic dust can influence the Sun. This can contribute to building a more accurate dynamic model of the solar system. What I like most about the topic is its practical application. I like to study what can benefit our society. Our better understanding of the dynamic model of the solar system ensures more precise tracking of the celestial objects and spacecraft equipment. The satellites are at the heart of our civilisation: navigation, the Internet, and fine system guiding, to name but a few. This is the key reason behind why I am not keen on exploring deep-space objects, galaxies, quasars. Still, astronomy is primarily concerned with theory, seemingly unnecessary things for us. Yet, due to the efforts of scientists, we can delve deeper into how the Universe works. Other sciences are developing more rapidly as they are more popular. Unlike astronomy, say, biology is exceptionally well delivered at school. Obviously, there are sciences that are more important than astronomy. Had we failed to promote and enable ambitious research of exceptional quality in these fields, we would have died from epidemics and starvation. They are important for space exploration as well. Still, I am an astronomy enthusiast, and I am especially keen on the celestial mechanics. It will never be popular as it is more oriented towards the non-scientific and rather mythical understanding of the world. You will never hear about the breakthroughs in astronomy on TV. Yet I like astronomy and don’t want to change it for anything else.

Evgeniia Fedorova

Once I thought that I knew little about what was beyond our Solar system. I didn’t have astronomy at school. I started to watch science fiction TV series and found a Voyager 1’s Pale blue point. It is the unique view of Earth as a tiny speck in the cosmos. Although I had read books on how big our Solar system was, nevertheless only this photo shocked me with the revelation about how tiny the Earth was even when compared with the Sun, needless to say with our galaxy.

If astronomy was more accessible to the general public and presented in a more understandable form, we would be almost mesmerised by the thought that we all lived on this tiny planet and how dim and trifle everything was when compared with our Universe. Choosing astronomy to study was about following my heart. My research project focuses on the protoplanetary disks that are rotating circumstellar discs of dense gas and dust in which planets are formed. Understanding how the systems, including the Solar system, are formed and evolve is crucial, as it concerns our life.

No doubt, astronomy is both about practice and expertise. Astronomy underpins our time reference systems, calendars, and celestial navigation to name but a few. The GPS-navigation systems and maps are extremely popular, and they work on the satellites, planetary and lunar ephemerides, Earth rotation parameters, data on the atmosphere and gravitational field. Besides, astronomy focuses on the solar phenomena that can influence our atmosphere. Some of the brightest bursts can damage satellites, while geomagnetic storms can affect communication, navigation, and energy systems. Among the practical applications of astronomy is a study of the Earth impact hazard, which can directly influence our life. It is also concerned with the processes that are beyond the laboratory research. This makes astronomy a wide-ranging science concerned with physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

Aleksandra Vishnevskaia

I chose astronomy for a number of reasons. At school, I was primarily interested in the natural sciences, mathematics, physics, astronomy, and chemistry. I was also good at IT. Astronomy seemed to be an instant source of innovation and among the most beautiful sciences. Moreover, I got inspired by the scientists who popularised science: Samaya Nissanke and Anatolii Cherepashchuk to name but a few. Their lectures made me more and more involved in the matter. Another reason was a social factor. There are as few as 10,000 scientists in astronomy worldwide, and astronomical society is incredibly friendly. The mere chance to communicate and discuss ideas, which may contribute to international relations, inspired me. Moreover, astronomy is deeply rooted in our family – my mother has a degree in astronomy geodesics and gravimetry.

Strictly speaking, I applied not to the Mathematics and Mechanics Faculty, but exclusively to the Department of Astronomy. Astronomy provides an excellent opportunity for the development of your critical faculties and intellect for research, and also instils important transferable skills that will serve you well, whatever your subsequent choice of career. In other words, you may enter professions such as IT if you an astronomy graduate but not vice versa.

Currently, I focus on gravitational-wave astronomy. In 2015, the experimental evidence for the gravitational waves evoked great resonance and even greater inspired me to delve deeper into astronomy. This part of astronomy is significant both in astronomy and physics. Although its findings are not quick to be incorporated into our life, nevertheless they have an enormous potential to radically reshape our life in future.

The achievements in astronomy are vital for any of us. As an ancient science, it has been a bedrock of our civilisation. Celestial navigation was vital for marine navigation. We wouldn’t have Wi-Fi without black holes. The scientists had to transmit the data from a radio telescope to the data processing centre. This is how the first version of the technology appeared. Everyone has used a navigation system at least once, which would be also impossible without astronomy. Astronomy is part of many professional spheres of our life. It helps measure time more accurately by studying pulsars or guide the intercontinental ballistic missiles and correct any errors in the flight path that may occur because of the Earth’s rotation and gravitational field between the launch point and the target.

Angelina Osetrova

I have always been fascinated by the night sky. In my early childhood, we observed the Galilean moons through a telescope. During my seventh year at school, my mother and I and her colleagues visited a radio observatory ‘Svetloe’ to celebrate Radio Day. When I was a teenager, I read a number of science-fiction books on astronomy. As I studied in the Physical-Technical High School, my choice of physics and mathematics might seem quite obvious.  I am equally in love with mathematics and physics. Astronomy is a perfect balance between the two. Such an incredibly popular sphere as IT has penetrated our life in many ways. Yet I don’t feel like I want to study it. For me, IT is more of a tool to obtain research data. What is more important is that the Department of Astronomy is incredibly friendly. And it is very inspiring.

I have never been at a loss when asked what the applied aspect of astronomy is. There is a convergence between astronomy, military defence, and our life. It can cover the following:

• Global positioning system
• Navigation
• Surgical strikes
• Satellite communication

The research outcomes in astronomy can be applied in geology. It can help find the mineral deposits by calculating the plumb-line deviation. Its advances can be used in our every-day life as well. The transmission of the data from a radio telescope to the data centre facilitated the advent of Wi-Fi. By studying solar activity, we can predict when it might affect sensitive people. The results of space exploration can be used in chemistry, biology, and engineering.

Sergei Laznevoi

Since my childhood, astronomy has been something that can always inspire me. I had no other choice than to become an astronomy student. It is a stunning and captivating science. It is even more fascinating than IT. Today, you can get a degree in IT and become a junior-developer even without having to leave your house. It is not the case with astronomy. There is a vast gap between professional and amateur astronomy. Unless you delve into it, you never know what it is like.

Astronomy is important. It benefits our life in more ways than one, without us knowing it. For example, none of the navigation applications in our smart phones would be possible without the satellite navigation system. Needless to say, about the tele-and radio-broadcasting across the globe. Our observations of the Solar system and understanding how it works enable us to promptly respond to even ‘negative’ situations: the asteroids approaching the Earth, sun bursts, and global climate change due to the axial precession to name but a few. What is more, our observations of the galaxies and stars at the different stages of their evolution can shed light on how our galaxy has been and will be evolving. Sometimes, the advances in science can be ahead of their time. In other words, if we have no idea as to how to use the obtained data, presumably it is a matter of a couple of years when it will be able to radically reshape our life.