# Astronomers

> Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.

- **SOC code:** 19-2011.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-2011-00
- **Also known as:** Astronomer, Astronomy Outreach Coordinator, Astrophysicist, Research Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, Extragalactic Astronomer, Galactic Astronomer, High-Energy Astrophysicist
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
- Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
- Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
- Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
- Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
- Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
- Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
- Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
- Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
- Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
- Review scientific proposals and research papers.
- Raise funds for scientific research.

**Emerging tasks** (O*NET):
- Write and review scientific proposals and research papers.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Physics _(knowledge)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Science _(essential_skill)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Writing _(essential_skill)_
- Mathematics _(essential_skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Oral Expression _(ability)_
- Written Expression _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Active Learning _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Learning Strategies _(Specialized Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- C _(hot technology, in demand)_
- C++ _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Python _(hot technology, in demand)_
- The MathWorks MATLAB _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Apache Hadoop _(hot technology)_
- IBM SPSS Statistics _(hot technology)_
- Linux _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology)_
- Oracle Java _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 87th percentile (High) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 94th percentile (High) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 67th percentile (High) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 85th percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 22nd percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** yes — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 2.2% growth (About average); 0.1k annual openings; 1.8k → 1.8k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $132,170; 1,560 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 27% automation, 59% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 4.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** learning.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Review scientific proposals and research papers. _(1.6% of measured AI use; validation)_
- Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers. _(1.3% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Calculate orbits and determine sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies. _(1.3% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation. _(1.2% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers. _(1.2% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis. _(1.1% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments. _(0.8% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals. _(0.4% of measured AI use; learning)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me review scientific proposals and research papers.
- Help me analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
- Help me calculate orbits and determine sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies.
- Help me develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation.
- Help me develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-2011-00_