Why Astronomy?

      During these busy days, traveling from place to place came in contact with so many people, so many enthusiastic persons and among them most are just kids asking me why we should do astronomy? What are the benefits and what will be the outcomes?

      Actually if you think deeply, these questions matters. Why in a country of more than 1.2 billion population where every one is fighting for survival and a job for life, some one will spent time and money for something which has no ending, no conclusion and beyond our reach? Astronomy is just a curiosity, the answer of which leads to another question and questions never stops coming.

      So here are some answers I used to give them about there queries. The basic point of doing astronomy is to involve yourself with the highest and the deepest level of knowledge ever exists.  You will study, you will observe, you will cultivate the pure form of knowledge. Once you enter into the world of astronomy, trust me, you will never find time and interest for other useless things.

Stephen Hawking- Most respected Cosmologist

Mission Control -NASA

      Academically if you are preparing your kid for astronomy, he/she will one day become the most prestigious person of the world as an astronaut like Neil Armstrong or cosmetologist like Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, or as an astronomical engineer of NASA, ISRO, ESA like most famous astronomical research centers who are responsible for all the groundbreaking breath taking discovery of entire human race. 

Neil Armstrong- The first Astronaut to Moon 

        But the fact is Everyone ain't so lucky to get these chances. According to the calculation, its 12.1 million to 1 for astronaut and 10 million to 1 for the president of USA!!! This statistics may not be completely true, but partially its something close to the odds.

     So this is the blog for those who are not that much lucky. What they gets from astronomy? Only for fun? NO. 

1. Every one on this beautiful planet is the part of this cosmos. When this universe created, form the dusts and gases of the early solar system each and every leaving and non- leaving beings are created. We all are created by star dusts of some dead star burst known as supernova. Hence we all must have that curiosity to know who we are, what is our existence and what is the future of all the mankind.
   
   After all this is all about survival. 66 million years ago a 6 mile sized asteroid crashed on Earth and entire Dinosaur generation got extincted. almost all the life on Earth got lost and once again life started on Earth. So what if history repeats once again? Are we prepared? So every one should know about the facts and stories of the place where we born, where we leave and where we die.  
2.  People involved in astronomy who does not gets a chance to prove there knowledge and curiosity, now a days can get opportunity to participate in real astronomical discovery. Government and other astronomical association now a days are giving scope to common citizen, students to elaborate data about stars and galaxy which not only can provide the amateur astronomers happiness, but also vast amount of  research level knowledge and recognition if they find anything new to the researchers. Like our own association (SCAAA), there are so many organization which allows common people to participate in research level programs with which you can make yourself rich with many new ideas of the cosmos and observe the unseen unbelievable objects of the universe through many sophisticated telescopes.
3.  Development is dependent upon knowledge which must be pure and away from blind believes In the case of Developing country like India, knowledge is still in the pressure of blind believes and myths. From the ancient age of more that 3000 years ago, astronomy fights to prove its identity in India till now. We left behind the generation which forbids watching solar eclipse in this country due to astronomy. With proper astronomical instruments and observational rules, we are now able to observe Solar Eclipse-the most beautiful astronomical phenomenon of the universe.So why we do astronomy? Here the answer is very transparent. We do this to help people understand what is wrong and what is right. So that the upcoming generation follow the correct path not the unknown, unjustified myths. To take our next generation to that level of transparency where they think about going to the Sun, not hide themselves during the occasion of Solar events. 

So with so many explanations i want to come to the poin that, you may choose astronomy as your career or not. But like you every day eat, drink, sleep, you must find some time for the home you are staying, the home planet where you born, the home universe which is responsible for your existence.